Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

Stories from busy, capable professionals who have built trusted external systems to reclaim their attention and live less stressful lives.

You spend a lot less time theorizing and a lot more time getting things done.


Stephen Magowan

Chief Executive Officer


Who We Coach

Capable, driven leaders (executives, founders, attorneys, and creatives) whose lives have simply outgrown their tracking systems. We help you move out of daily reaction mode and reclaim the attention you didn’t realize you had lost.


Client Video Series

Hear it in their own words.

After Hours Series

Candid, deep-dive conversations with clients on what life looked like before coaching, what shifted, and how they maintain alignment now.

Success Stories

Focused, two-to-three-minute accounts of specific results and how each client’s system changed.


Client Reflections

What changed for them

Regaining Control of Your Workload
“When I first embarked on this journey, I was struggling to find a sense of control over my highest priorities amidst the chaos of my daily tasks and the demand of ever increasing unplanned work.

Your support and expertise not only helped me navigate through those challenges but also empowered me to cultivate a new found sense of clarity and efficiency. Through your coaching, I have gained a deeper understanding of myself and how to align my actions with my most important values and goals.

Your dedication to my success has been evident in every session and I am truly grateful for the patience, kindness and wisdom you demonstrated throughout our time together.

Thank you Julie for not only being a coach but also a friend. Your guidance has and will indeed be instrumental in shaping my journey towards personal and professional growth and for that I am immensely grateful.”

Reggie KurtzeChief Executive Officer
Regaining Control of Your Workload
“Julie and I worked together when I was just getting up and running at Wayfair, and I recommend doing exactly what she recommends without question. She knows her stuff and has definitely worked with bigger messes than you.

Julie not only got my tasks, commitment, emails, and workload under control, but also got me thinking (and operating) at a much higher level about WHAT tasks, commitments, emails and work I actually wanted to let into my life in order to have the life I want.

‘Productivity Coach’ is the most understandable way to describe what Julie does, but it’s a massive, massive undersell of what you’ll be able to accomplish if you take her advice.”

Roderick McMullenDirector of Business Transformation
Regaining Control of Your Workload
“Meg, I didn’t know that my inbox could feel so good.

I was skeptical at first but seeing it empty really does declutter the mind. Thanks for the great difference you’ve made in my life and work wellbeing through your coaching. Looking forward to meeting with you for our last session in two weeks.”

Joseph BlanchChief Executive Officer
Regaining Control of Your Workload
“I wanted to get to a point in my work that when I felt busy, it wasn’t because I was unorganized—it was truly because I was busy.

I felt like if I had the best tools and the best coaching in place, I could implement it at a level I had never tried before.

It’s human nature to drift, but that’s the beauty of the program. Having direct access to connect and ping my coach when something seems off, along with third-party validation, helped me connect a lot of dots on myself. The in-person coaching takes it up another huge click, but you get amazing results virtually too.”

Luis RiveraChief Executive Officer
Regaining Control of Your Workload
“Approximately 10 days after this flood, I have got everything completely under control.

Life is busy. Some days are busier than others. Then we had a torrential rainstorm which dumped about 7 inches of rain in our fair city. Which flooded my house. 6 to 12 inches of water.

So, I made a project: “restore my house to the condition it was in and complete upgrades.” The entire city had something like 6000 residential floods, so to try to find somebody to help was difficult, at best. So I did my next action step and off I went.

There are only two steps left in my project, and those are on my “waiting for” list. I thank Meg for the training.”

Jason HowieGTD Practitioner
Regaining Control of Your Workload
“My runway has shrunk from 150 to 4, I’m doing regular weekly reviews and project reviews, and I’m feeling motivated again.

Meg understood that my system was creating some emotional blocks and I needed to step back and start over and decide what work “deserved” to be done. She also helped me understand how to better process big decisions by understanding my cognitive preferences.

I discovered a desire to work from home more to improve my productivity by improving my work environment, and she even helped me define my vision of starting my own firm.”

Tanya NicholsCertified Financial Planner
Regaining Control of Your Workload
“A great coaching experience. Four months in, I’m now operating at a level of efficiency I hadn’t had before.”
Luke AbbottChief Executive Officer
Stepping Into a Bigger Role
“As I progressed in my career and my responsibilities increased, I found myself struggling to stay in front of all my personal and professional commitments.

I was no stranger to GTD having read the book, attended their single day course and worked with the GTD system for nearly 8 years. Sensing a need to be even more productive, I began working with Julie Ireland and GTD Focus in April 2011. Julie was able to quickly diagnose my ‘system’; with some tweaks and adjustment, I was able to realize immediate benefit.

With time the focus of coaching has shifted from the runway to the higher altitudes; from improved productivity to life fulfillment. With Julie’s guidance, what started as a desire to ‘get control’ has turned into a journey striving to be more intentional and more balanced – both personally and professionally.”

Phil UlrichChief Human Resources Officer
Stepping Into a Bigger Role
“I went into the coaching sessions thinking GTD was about control and managing actions but soon learned that the true power of GTD is clarity and focus.

I worked with GTD for a number of years, but when I took on a new, expanded role in my company, I found that my system didn’t scale with my new responsibilities. So, I engaged Julie Ireland as my GTD coach to help me refine my system and clear my runway.

After two sessions, I found myself out of a job due to a company restructuring. I am so thankful that Julie was there as she led me through an intentional process of the GTD areas of focus and the natural planning model where I was able to get really clear on my priorities and what was important.

Julie was a wonderful, empathetic coach who has a contagious enthusiasm for the GTD methodology and lives by the principles.”

Chris LangleyGlobal Head of IT
Stepping Into a Bigger Role
“I quickly realized that what got me there wasn’t going to keep me there.

I first reached out to GTD Focus for coaching in 2017. I had moved from a Project Management role in a product development group into an Operations Management role. Little did I know that the coaching I received wasn’t just going to help me in my current role, it would also prepare me for my next role – something that I wasn’t even aiming for, and really wasn’t even on my radar.

The process is excellent, and I can’t say enough about how effective my coach was. Julie has an innate ability to meet you – right where you are. She helped me on the basic blocking and tackling of effective capture, email processing, and calendar management. She can also pivot to help you raise up and get a bigger picture of what you’re doing and making sure that it aligns with your long-term goals and principles.

I reached out to GTD Focus for additional coaching in 2021 and was fortunate enough to have Julie as my coach again. It wasn’t a rehash of what we did last time. It was just the right blend of fine tuning the tactical items and adding the right amount of strategic guidance to help me focus on the right things at the right level.

In these days of apps, hacks, and quick fixes, it is so refreshing to invest in yourself with real timeless principles. If you’re wondering if it’s worth it, I can tell you that the return I’ve gotten on my investment has definitely exceeded my expectations.”

Eric JonesDirector of Manufacturing Operations
Stepping Into a Bigger Role
“Now I truly feel I have a “trusted system.”

When I first engaged my coach, Julie Ireland, I had already read Getting Things Done and had tried to implement a few of the principles. But I’d recently been promoted and was starting to feel the pressure that came with my new role and responsibilities.

My work with Julie took my approach to GTD to a level I didn’t think was possible. It allows me to keep things moving at work but more importantly gives me peace of mind knowing that my work is under control and I can therefore give my undivided attention to friends, family and other interests when I clock out for the day.”

David WellsSales Tax Senior Manager
Stepping Into a Bigger Role
“It took so long to understand that there is no such thing as GTD Police.

When I transitioned to becoming an assistant professor, I had so many new responsibilities and my old way of keeping track of things wasn’t working. For so many years, I was focused on the runway, action levels, and projects—I was too busy making sure my system was squeaky clean, and I never spent time thinking about the big picture. I needed somebody to guide me through that.

Now I operate out of my areas of focus. These are best practices and principles, but you need to take this and make it your own.”

David DrakeProfessor of Microbiology
Clarity on What Matters Most
“I have been student, fan, and proponent of GTD for over two decades.

The lessons and coaching Meg has provided for me still resonate with me daily. It has allowed me to build several multi million dollar companies, and much more importantly, design a life worth living by my standards.

If you get a chance, even if it is just a quick call, to connect with Meg, you will perhaps have found someone who genuinely can help you design the life you so desire.”

Marx Acosta-RubioChief Executive Officer
Clarity on What Matters Most
“Julie Ireland is a 5-star black-belt executive coach and a ‘productivity whisperer’ who tailors her coaching to clients to keep them laser-focused on their goals and projects for work and life.

I could not recommend anyone more highly for someone looking to accelerate his or her personal productivity and meaningful goal-setting in life.”

Jocelyn KingChief Executive Officer
Clarity on What Matters Most
“The Horizons of Focus skills I learned from you most recently are a game-changer.

As a result of being able to connect projects to Horizons of Focus, I am way less timid when it comes to talking with my boss about what is coming up, or not coming up, in the near future. It’s incredible, the difference!”

Laura LaneVeteran System Coordinator
Clarity on What Matters Most
“The tools and strategies you’ve shared have truly transformed the way I manage my tasks and time.

With the trusted system we’ve built together, I feel more in control of my ‘inboxes’, and the Weekly Reviews have become an invaluable part of my routine. They help me clarify action items and allow me to prioritize with confidence. Ultimately, I have seen this show up in my ability to deliver creative ideas.

Most importantly, I’m noticing the positive impact on my work-life-balance. I’m excited to keep building on this foundation.”

Sonya RobinsonMeetings & Events Manager
Clarity on What Matters Most
“I’ve completed or initiated several major projects that I don’t think I would have tackled in the same way without the coaching.

I’ve been very consistent with weekly reviews. Beyond that, the framework has helped me think about both personal and business matters more intentionally, and I’ve made some significant positive life changes over the past six months—both professionally and personally.

During our work together, I was able to use the time constructively—setting up systems and empowering employees. Now that I’ve refocused on my core, the financial picture has resolved significantly. We’re in a much stronger position.”

William JordanAttorney
A System That Fits How You Think
“There’s a level of calmness that happens when you trust your organization system.

I would really recommend it. This is different than a lot of systems that sell you a generic 12-step system. What I liked about the coaching is you were able to meet me where I am and move me forward—if I was stuck, you could unstick me.

I already was successful in my career, but I wanted an integrated system, a one-stop shop for life and organizing my life. I would not have been able to successfully accomplish and track everything that happened for me this summer without the system personalized for me.”

Marcella GoodnightExecutive Director
A System That Fits How You Think
“Getting coached by Meg led to an incredible evolution in my understanding of GTD.

My interpretation of the practices in the book were too rigid. Meg’s coaching helped me incorporate a kinder, more intuitive style of GTD into my life than the one I had developed from my own reading. Meg raised my focus from the project and next actions levels of my life, to the higher areas of focus and responsibility that really drive the quality of my life.”

Jesse KoltesChief Executive Officer
A System That Fits How You Think
“It is not an overstatement that GTD and the virtual coaching changed my life significantly for the better.

Reading the book and implementing the system in Getting Things Done was essential to my understanding of productivity. But the blind spots in my grasp of GTD were stumbling blocks that kept me from mastery for years.

Finally, I reached out to GTD Focus. Julie Ireland was cunningly adept at doing what I most desperately needed: she sussed-out my weak spots and got me moving on the right track. She helped me to grab the low-hanging fruit of GTD competence, which for me turned out to be the implementation of ground level next actions, and went on to resolving my real obstacles. I make this sound fairly straight forward, but it’s a hair-raising process best managed by someone who knows what she’s doing—and she does.

The time and resources I invested in this process have been more productive than I could have imagined or hoped, and I’m deeply indebted.”

Suzanne StrisikIndependent Psychologist
A System That Fits How You Think
“You really helped me connect the bits and pieces I had for GTD into something that works specifically for my life.

From each session, I walked away with tangible, actionable changes that made my system work significantly better. The theoretical parts of GTD have become tangible with your help.”

Sarah MeyerGTD Practitioner
A System That Fits How You Think
“I like the weird in me, but I love now that I can take that weird and funnel it towards really great things.

The thing Meg helped me with the most was we were able to look at my personality. I don’t think exactly the way other people do—I’m a creative. I felt completely supported. This was eye-opening for me and literally a game changer.”

Gina DiRomaDirector of Corporate Sales
Executive & Assistant Teams
“The amount of time I spent playing whack-a-mole, trying to figure out what should come first, has diminished significantly.

Coming back from days away, I can reenter and say: what’s my energy, what’s my time, what’s my focus, and just start picking off the right work. What GTD lets me do as an executive is think about alternatives intentionally, when I choose to, rather than having every thought process involve a multitude of possibilities. You spend a lot less time theorizing and a lot more time getting things done.”

Stephen MagowanChief Executive Officer
Executive & Assistant Teams
“It wasn’t what I expected. It’s not about organizing yourself. What it gave us was a trusted system and a common language for how to talk about our work together, and then we made it ours.

The key thing GTD has given me personally is a sense of freedom moving throughout the day. I feel confident that whatever I’m working on is what I should be working on, because I’m not worried about what I might be forgetting.”

Robyn VeneroExecutive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer

Reclaim your mental bandwidth.

A trusted external system is the key to rising above daily reaction mode. On a short call we’ll look at how you work today, then match you with the coach and program that fit best.

  • Talk through what's pulling at your attention
  • We pair you with the coach who fits
  • Leave with a clear next step