No Problems, Only Projects
Convert every changeable complaint into an outcome and next action
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 5
- Confidence
- 98%
The 'No Problems, Only Projects' rule begins with a distinction: people usually label something a problem only because they believe it can or should be improved. If it genuinely cannot change, the available moves are to accept it, ignore it, or work with it. If it can change, stop using complaint as a substitute for agency. Ask what you want to be true, state that condition as a desired outcome, and turn it into a project. Then identify the next action and direct attention or resources toward resolution. The mechanism converts an undefined gap into two operational units: outcome and action. It works for practical issues and emotionally charged situations because upset often signals a difference between current reality and a preferred state.
Origin
Allen developed this rule inside advanced GTD training to help people identify concerns that belonged on their project lists rather than leaving them as recurring complaints.
Core principles
- 01A problem implies something can or should be different
- 02Unchangeable realities must be accepted, ignored, or used
- 03Desired outcomes restore agency
- 04A next action moves attention from complaint to resolution
How to run it
- 1
Test changeability
Ask whether the situation can be fixed, should be improved, or is simply a fact of reality. Separate actionable gaps from conditions outside your control.
Pro tip Use gravity as the control example: nobody makes it a project because it is not negotiable.
Watch out Do not manufacture a project where acceptance is the honest response.
- 2
Define the preferred truth
Describe what you want to be true when the issue is resolved. State the result concretely enough to recognize completion.
Pro tip Phrase it as a resolved condition rather than an activity.
Watch out A label such as 'neighbor issue' preserves the ambiguity.
- 3
Name the project
Record the desired outcome as an active project you are committed to finish. This puts you in the driver's seat.
Pro tip Begin with an outcome verb such as resolve, decide, or complete.
- 4
Choose the next action
Identify the next physical, visible step that moves the situation toward the outcome. Make it small enough to start without more planning.
Pro tip For conflict, the next action may be drafting a message or scheduling a conversation.
Watch out Do not confuse thinking about the issue with taking the next action.
- 5
Reallocate resources
Direct the necessary time, attention, or support toward the next action and review the project until resolved.
Watch out A named project without allocated attention remains a better-worded complaint.
In the wild
A neighbor complains that a tree was planted too close to their property. Replace repeated frustration with the desired outcome 'Resolution with neighbor about tree is agreed.' Choose a next action, such as calling the neighbor to understand the specific concern and arrange a discussion.
→ The dispute becomes a manageable project rather than a recurring complaint.
After receiving an upsetting message, define what different would look like before reacting. If the desired outcome is a clear, respectful agreement, the next action might be writing down the facts and requesting a conversation when both parties are calm.
→ Emotion supplies information about the gap while the project supplies a path forward.
Common mistakes
Complaining instead of choosing
Complaint can become a way to avoid deciding what outcome you want and what you will do next.
Forcing action on the unchangeable
Some conditions call for acceptance, ignoring, or adaptation rather than a resolution project.
Naming a topic, not an outcome
A topic does not define what done looks like, so it cannot guide the next action reliably.
Is it for you?
Best for
It is best for situations that feel bothersome but remain vague or unowned.
Not ideal for
It is not ideal for realities that cannot be changed or for emotions that first require safety and support.
From the transcript
“you only consider something a problem if you assume that it can be fixed or should be fixed or improved”
“what's my desired outcome what's the outcome and action are the zeros and ones of productivity”
“if you're upset it just means you want something to be different than it currently is”
From the episode
YAPClassic: David Allen on Getting More Sh*t Done
YAPClassic