Customer Reviews

Getting Organized: Improving Focus, Organization and Productivity

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a very good book to help you get organized. I originally had a three star and changed it to a four star. So many of this book's best elements are also found in David Allen's Getting Things Done. I read Allen's book last year and it knocked my socks off. When I read this, I wasn't as impressed as I would have if I read Crouch's before Allen's (they're both obviously drawing some of the best tidbits from some of the same material that preceded them). They have many, many of the same very helpful tips. The advantage of Crouch's is that is has short digestible chapters. However, an overall approach does not clearly emerge, just a bunch of big and small organizing ideas. An advantage of Allen's is that you get a clear, overarching approach into which all those good tips suggested in these books fit. Allen's chapters are longer, and though very readable, can get a little bogged down compared to Crouch. If I had only one book to buy, I'd get Allen's. However, I'm glad I read Crouch's because it has given me a refresher.

Getting organized is a major issue for many of us (I work two jobs, both of which require me to maintain an office). While one book may do it for some, I strongly believe that major habit changes will more likely come if you really plunge into an area like this. That means reading Crouch's book, Allen's book, and even Julie Morganstern's Organizing from the Inside Out. While Allen and Crouch focus on the office and home office (mail, home files, etc.), Morgenstern also covers garage, basement, closets, etc. I'm serious, to change the way you look at things, you need to read several books and make yourself an "expert." Otherwise, it will be a book you read that you're not likely to act on.

I read them in the order of 1) Allen, 2) Morgenstern and 3) Crouch. If any readers will choose to read all three of these, I'd recommend Crouch first, then Allen, then Morgenstern. Crouch will lure you in with his short little chapters (once you get past his too many introductory-type chapters before you get into the good stuff). Then, reinforce what you learn by reading a lot of overlapping stuff in Allen's book, but Allen will give you an outline or framework that ties it all together. Then, move on from the office to your closets and garage with Morgenstern. Of the three, Allen was the best for me, but I needed the others to sustain my momentum. Good luck!

The book was NOT what I was expecting based on prior reviews. This is NOT a guide to life organizing and prioritizing but rather the author's idea of handling office incoming mail, a filing reminder system for phone calls to be made and work to be done, keeping things one needs to share with another individual in a central location, and scheduling and consolidating that sharing. For those who don't need a computer to do their job, have a memory like a sieve, or are super disorganized and don't know where to begin to start, this might be helpful, otherwise, save your money. His ideas are only practical in a low volume paperwork environment and with those who have non-technical professions. Some kind of portable, daily planner or calendar or a computer syncing PDA is much more practical.

I recently bought both this and Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity in order to stimulate my thinking about how to take charge of my incredibly busy job as a software development manager in an e-commerce company. I manage about 8 people directly and am also the prime facilitator for another project team of about 15 people, half of which are contractors. Like most people, I also have my own work projects and initiatives, as well as huge laundry list of personal items to keep up with.

At first I was a little turned off by the 55 super-short chapters, each of which is 1-2 pages in length and has a "What? So What? Now what?" layout. The writing quality seemed only average, and I was left thinking "Is that it?" after each chapter. However, after I finished the book rather quickly and then got bogged down in Getting Things Done, I realized that this is a pretty good layout for the target audience - people who feel too busy to read a book on productivity.

Many of the observations seem obvious, but that is one of the key messages of the book: we're all making this stuff away too complicated. How many of us take ten minutes each morning to set a focus and key priority list for the day? Or do we omit that simple step, or fall into the trap of checking email "just for a few minutes" first and then get seduced into following little shiny objects all day while missing the big picture?

The "Five Decisions" chapters - Discard, Delegate, Take Immediate Action, Put in a Reference File, and File for Follow-up - are important but I think are covered better in the other book. About half of the other chapters really resonated with me, which made it worthwhile overall. However, the author lost me when he spent 10 chapters describing a paper filing system with folders for each day of the month plus various other files. I agree that people shouldn't expect software and tools to solve all their problems, but I think a PDA or list software like Remember the Milk is much better than a paper system for anyone who works in multiple locations or is "on the go". I felt like he was being a bit techno-phobic, sort of like the guys who insist that LP records are better than CDs or MP3s.

Really the best way to improve your organization habits is to browse several books and articles on the topic, note the themes that recur (like planning time, grouping tasks by project or goal, etc.) and then choose a couple of things to focus on. I'd recommend this book as one of those resources but not the best-written or only one.

You won't get rich from simply reading a "How to Get Rich" book and you won't get organized and productive from just reading any book - you have to take action and implement the ideas.

I have used the principles and ideas outlined in "Getting Organized" for several years and found them to be extremely valuable.

Becoming more organized and productive is not a matter of what type of filing system or PDA you use, it involves making a habit of organized and productive behavior.

This book provides concrete tools for forming those habits. Simply outstanding!

Over all the book is very good. Short chapters make it easy to get through it and it does not drag. I found it a great resource for other books that it referance (eg. Think and Grow Rich). Depending on your occupation some of the ideas presented in this book will not apply to you (at least that's my opinion). For instance "printing" everything on paper might be more applicable to someone that gets a lot faxes or documents, but if everything you get is electronic I just find printing everything to be over kill, not to mention environment unfriendly. Other part of the book are good. Author states, "read this book and take whatever you want" and I totally agree. Even if you don't find some parts of the book applicable to you, you will find something that you'll be able to use.

I loved it. Every chapter is short and easy to absorbe. What might work for me, might not work for you. The auther acknoleged that, so the book isnt some difficult step by step process. Its full of techniques, and it does what other books dont do, it also explains why these techniques work. I thought that I would have to buy books after books inorder to get organized, but this book was all I needed!

I bought this book as I was becoming overwhelmed with unfinished paperwork.
Although I would occasionally wage war on the piles of unopened mail, unpaid accounts and half read journals in an all out assault, resulting in a victory over the clutter (usually revealing some important items which should have been dealt with weeks ago). The victory would be short lived - the clutter soon mounted a counter offensive and re-invaded the office.
This left me with a constant worry about what was lying within the junk all over my office. It left me feeling overwhelmed and out of control.
The book arrived and I eagerly started to read it; dubious as to whether it could help.
However I needn't have worried, what I found was a sympathetic, clear, short and well written book which armed me with brilliant, easy behaviours and ideas to prioritise, action and control incoming items so everything got done on time and nothing piles up any longer. I CAN SEE THE DESK!
The book says you will be happier, less guilty and less worried once you get your life organized - this is so very true and I'm just a little bit proud of myself to boot.
The price of the book is nothing compared to the results it brought me, I've already lent it to a friend.
Just an idea: the control point file is brilliant but a bit of a paper waster. I'm thinking of laminating forms, writing on them in vivid marker and when they are finished with; wiping them down with alcohol to re-use them.

Thanks to Getting Organized, I have the reputation of someone who always follows up with my clients and my team. My clients love learning about the principles in Getting Organized because they're simple. They spend two hours in a workshop with me and go away with a system that's easy to understand and implement. They learn to prioritize and are more productive and less stressed out.
Julie Mahan, Owner
Simply Organizing, Inc.
Indianapolis, IN

Chris Couch's book Getting Organized is a must for anyone who wants to get and stay organized. He deals with real solutions for real problems.

This was a very refreshing and well needed book. It has definitely changed the way I think about everything I do as far as processing information and categorizing things. I especially appreciate the chapters on the hanging filing system. It has done wonders for me both personally and professionally. If you know you struggle in getting yourself organized, then this book is for you!!