I was in my early 20s when my best friend Matt told me to get a copy of Getting Things Done by David Allen.

He was right. I tore through the book. And I’ve read or skimmed my highlights at least 100 times since. (Matt’s reading advice is always on point.)

It’s not hype. It’s practical. And it changed the way I manage nearly everything.

One idea from that book still guides me every single day. It’s strange at first, but once it clicks, you’ll never stop using it.

THE PROBLEM

Most people don’t struggle with productivity because they’re lazy. They struggle because they try to remember the right thing at the wrong time.

You remember to buy toothpaste while brushing your teeth. You remember to follow up with a client when you’re in the car. You remember what you meant to say after the call ends.

Your brain throws up reminders on its own schedule. But real productivity means creating systems that deliver those reminders at the right time and place.

THE SOLUTION: PUT YOUR KEYS ON IT

The most powerful idea from the book was this:

If you really don’t want to forget something, put your car keys on it.

That could mean literally putting your keys on top of something you need to bring tomorrow. But it also means placing the reminder in the exact context where action is possible.

This single mindset has changed how I use every to-do list.

1. Contextual Lists: I don’t use one long to-do list. I use lists based on context. Out and About. At Computer. Calls. Waiting. Home. The goal is to only see what I can act on right now.
2. Immediate Input: If I run out of toothpaste, I immediately add it to the Out and About list. Not later when building a grocery list. That moment of friction is the perfect time to capture the task.
3. Right List, Right Time: I only look at the Out and About list when I’m actually out. I check my Calls list when I’m driving or walking. Each list only appears when I’m in the right position to act on it.

APPLICATIONS and TOOLS

This applies far beyond errands. It’s about running your life and your business with clarity.

Smart founders and leaders build systems that surface decisions in the moment they matter. They don’t rely on memory. They free up space to focus on strategy and execution.

Productivity is not about effort. It’s about structure.

Tools? There are many. I like Google Tasks and Evernote, but you use any tool that you like and – here’s the biggest issue – that you will actually use.

CHALLENGE

Build one contextual list this week. Try one of these:

Out and About

Calls at Computer

Waiting

Then actually use it. Open it when the context matches. Add to it in real time. Let your brain relax.

And if something really matters, don’t just write it down. Put your keys on it.

See you next Saturday. Follow here for more.