Robert Kelsey - Get Things Done: What Stops Smart People Achieving More and How You Can Change

Table of Contents

There are many books about motivation and they tend to rely on pop psychology or the author's intuition, which makes them as inaccurate as ineffective. With Get Things Done, Robert Kelsey has managed to bridge the gap between the science and practice of willpower, discussing key psychological theories in an elegant, accessible style, and translating them into effective actionable suggestions. This book is a must-read for anybody wishing to understand the difference between potential and achievement, and wanting to bridge that gap to fulfil their meaningful goals.

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, PhD, author of Confidence: Overcoming Low Self-esteem, Insecurity and Self-doubt

A great contribution for all of us who struggle with disorder and long to attain meaningful goals. It gives us both the why and the how!

Dr Marilyn Paul, author ofIt's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys

A Smrgsbord of practical tips for getting your life under control.

John Williams, author of Screw Work Let's Play

An engaging, entertaining, easy-to-read book. Robert Kelsey is disarmingly honest about his own flaws and failings and you can really hear his voice in his writing. If you're looking to make a journey of personal change, you could do worse than to rely on Kelsey as your compass.

Dr Rob Yeung, psychologist at consulting firm Talentspace and author of Confidence and How to Win

The hallmarks of Robert Kelsey's work are thorough research, personal insight and thoughtful presentation.

John Caunt, author of Organise Yourself

The world is full of dreamers; talented individuals with great abilities, ideas and aspirations. And yet, many of these dreamers fail to realize their full potential. How sad is that? In his book, Get Things Done, author Robert Kelsey shares the secrets of making things happen. He tackles both psychological and behavioural blocks, and gives us practical ways to deal with potential distractions such as email, conflict, bad habits, etc. His writing style is genuine, easy to read and based on solid research. I recommend this book for anyone out there who knows they have even more potential than they are currently demonstrating. You want to get results in your life? Then start by reading this book!

Tim Ursiny, Ph.D., RCC, CBC, founder of Advantage Coaching & Training and author of multiple books including The Coward's Guide to Conflict and The Top Performer's Guide to Attitude

Robert's thought-provoking survey of productivity literature looks at the perplexing question of why smart people can undermine their own success. Fortunately, this book offers plenty of ideas for getting started on the hard work of personal change.

Laura Vanderkam, author of What the Most Successful People Do at Work

For those that want to achieve more, working out how to get things done is vital. When it comes to understanding how to turn yourself into a doer this book is a great kick in the pants.

Richard Newton, co-author of Stop Talking, Start Doing

Finding fulfilling work takes endeavour. It also takes direction and motivation. Robert Kelsey's well-researched book is a great place to start.

Roman Krznaric, bestselling author of How to Find Fulfilling Work

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ISBN 9780-857083081 (paperback) ISBN 9780-857083227 (ebk)

ISBN 9780-857083210 (ebk)

Cover design by Simon Dovar

To my mother

Introduction

My Own Personal Chaos

In my mid-twenties I started learning German. Not sure why. I just fancied it perhaps feeling that, having earned a university degree (late), I could plug another life gap and learn a language. I went to the Goethe-Institut in Manchester and borrowed some tapes. And I made good progress. Soon I felt well on my way building up vocabulary, understanding verb construction and dealing with grammar.

But then I just stopped. One day I missed a lesson and that was that. Of course, 20 years have passed, so if I'd kept it up I'd be fluent by now.

In my early thirties I took up sailing. I was living in New York at the time and had some great lessons in the harbour using Liberty and Ellis Island as tacking points. And I was good at it my instructor thought me a natural. But, again, I just stopped meaning my strong nautical progress came to nothing.

Then there was golf that was in my early twenties. French early thirties. Five-a-side football, squash, tennis all sometime between university and now. And what about all those business plans? Town-based restaurant guides, for instance. We produced three but not a fourth despite their popularity. A highly-focused financial magazine: didn't happen, despite two near-identical magazines since succeeding. A lifestyle magazine for the City of London: yep, there's one of those now. But it's nothing to do with me.