So many projects, were to start.

[Jcs]

When I first started reading Getting Things Done I was like

"How can anyone have ~30 projects going on in their lives?"

I realize now that I have at least enough work/projects for the next 2-3 years .

My challenge is that I can't seem to focus. When I'm half way to 'finishing' a project (its never really finished) I abandon it and start on a different one. Eventually I'll finish the projects that have been collecting dust but wouldn't it be more efficient if I finish them in one fell swoop? I think it could have something to do with an unconscious fear of completing them. Fear of negative criticism perhaps.

How do you stay focused on a project? Strict GTD regime or just an intense desire?

*Starts churning out code en pixels again*

[ilovetoday]

I had a huge problem with this, and occasionally I slip back into this way aswell. I think it is all habit. You are in a habit of never finnishing things. Make a list of things you need to do each day, tick them off or draw a line through each as you finnish. Your list will become a list of small goals and you will feel the satisfaction of achieving a small goal each time you draw a line through one. It becomes fun to finnish the day with a list of little "achievements" or "progress checks".

I find once you have this habit down pat you enjoy getting more and more done.

[BenThere]

I think the answer is to be found in a higher perspective.

Which projects are only about taking care of old junk?
Which projects are about building the life you really love?

Make sure you do at least some "new business" every week!

The higher perspective, I believe, is in roles and goals.

Are several different projects all part of the same goal?
For example, a painting project and a landscaping project could really all be part of a home improvement goal. A marketing project and an engineering project could all be part of a business revenue goal.
If you can group the projects into goals, then you can schedule time to work on your goals. When working on a goal, you do whatever you can about the next project(s) at hand. When you finish those projects, continue to schedule time for the same goal. Use that time for the next projects in line. This gives you continuity on a big-picture view, instead of an endless supply of to-do lists.

Goals in turn can be grouped into the roles in life they support.
For example, a nutrition goal, a dental care goal, and an exercise goal can all be grouped into the role of "fit, healthy person."
A debt payoff goal, a savings goal, and a retirement planning goal can all be grouped into the role of "personal finance expert."
From this perspective, you look for the way you can embody your most empowering roles this week.
That's a lot more inspiring than checking stuff off the to-do list.

Tony Robbins and ThinkTQ both have a lot of material about choosing your roles. That big-picture view is the weakest part of David Allen's system. On the other hand, nobody's better at him at advice for going from to-do list to done.

[justfiverules]

Re: "That big-picture view is the weakest part of David Allen's system."

His other book, "Ready For Anything" contains more of the "big picture" material.

I once attended a 1/2 day GTD seminar given by one of his GTD coaches in Tokyo. As well as living the system she was positively beaming with enthusiasm - (I suspect the fee my company paid had something to do with that lol).

[Jcs]

Thanks for the advice everyone .