I was introduced to the concept of projects and project management through a productivity guy: David Allen. In David’s book Getting Things Done, he says (and I paraphrase), "We get overwhelmed by all the stuff on our plates. Start thinking about almost everything you do as a project, and then you can start managing it as a project." David’s introducing a system, and in tough times, good systems are one of the things that help you live a better life, feel more in control, and get through this. Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez is the world expert on projects and project management. He’s written books, Harvard Business Review articles and is named as one of the Thinkers 50, the so-called “Oscars of management”. He really has been a champion forever in the argument that projects are the lingua franca of the business and personal worlds.  In our conversation we talk about the power of focus; the necessity of courage; why saying No is perhaps the ultimate project management hack; and how to avoid the swamps of project management where so many of us can get bogged down. You can meet Antonio at his website www.antonionietorodriguez.com and on Twitter at @AnietoRodriguez. This show is brought to you by The Advice Trap, Michael Bungay Stanier’s latest book. You can access a wide range of tools to help #TameYourAdviceMonster at www.TheAdviceTrap.com If you’d like to spend more time with Michael and people he admires, sign up for The Year of Living Brilliantly. 52 teachers over 52 weeks, each teaching one brilliant insight. Absolutely free.