Thank you for your thoughtful feedback and for engaging with this.
You’re right—storage is indeed essential, both in GTD and in LEAN production systems. If we compare this to a LEAN factory producing widgets, storage shows up in two key forms: backlog and WIP (Work in Progress).
In LEAN, the backlog is like your raw material inventory—inputs waiting to enter the production line. In GTD, this aligns with your IN-basket or inbox: unprocessed inputs awaiting clarification.
Once processed, items often move into WIP, representing tasks actively moving through the system but not yet completed. LEAN principles teach us that while WIP is necessary to maintain flow, too much of it creates bottlenecks and inefficiencies—just like overcommitting in GTD can lead to overwhelm and lack of clarity.
So yes, storage is always present—but LEAN teaches us to minimize excess inventory (both backlog and WIP) to keep the system smooth and responsive. The same applies when LEAN thinking is applied to GTD: process fast, limit what stays in WIP, and aim for just-in-time execution.
I’d love to hear more about how you integrate these concepts into your GTD setup.
Thanks again for your valuable input!
