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The first and best tip I can offer to anyone wanting to be more creative and innovative is to start carrying and Idea Journal... Something to write your ideas on 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
This could take any form ranging from 3x5 cards tucked into a pocket or purse, to a computer based system. No matter which system you choose... the secret is selecting something you can keep with you at all times that allows you to quickly write down thoughts whenever they come to mind.
An Idea Journal will accomplish a few of things for you...
First... and the point of this post... It's going to allow you to capture the things you think, hear, see, learn, and all sorts of raw material. Using an Idea Journal will re-wire your senses to be more receptive to information you may have previously overlooked. These notes are building blocks for new ideas. After you've written them, review your notes at a later time. Write a specific challenge in your journal and let it just sit there and incubate. After a few days, come back to that problem and see what answers you have hatched in your mind.
Second... You can write and store important notes to free up brainpower. Since you'll always have your journal with you, you'll always have your important lists as well. Remembered lists and are using valuable brain RAM. Just like an application on your computer running in the background, it can cause the other apps to be sluggish. Your brain is processing "I've got to bring home a dozen eggs, a gallon of milk, and a stick of butter" when it could be working on something more critical. Write it down in your journal.
Finally... your journal will come in handy to capture and recall a phone number, book title, website, or other reminders. You will no longer need to frantically pat yourself down or hope to find an old receipt in your wallet.
So, which tool is best? Whatever is best for your style. Perhaps your current planner can work as your single tool, or maybe you need to add something new. There is something in the idea, if you want to think different, act different.
Suggestions
Here are thoughts from personal experience...
- Use permanent ink or pencil... something that won't wash away if your Idea Journal gets wet.
- Use something as accessible as possible. As excited as I was to have a Tablet PC... It isn't convenient if you need to jot something down, say, in a restaurant with your family. You won't want to use it in the rain, and sometimes the 20 seconds it takes to wake from hibernation-mode is enough to lose that great idea nugget forever.
- What do I use? My tool lately has been the pocket Moleskine* sketchbook. I use the larger sketchbook when I'm working on a specific project and need more space. There are no lines, which allows free-range writing, and the pages are think enough not to allow ink to bleed.
*By the way, Moleskine is pronounced moe-lay-skee-nay, not mole-skin as I once thought.
No matter which format you select, if you stick with it, I guarantee you will impress yourself with the thoughts you capture and the new ideas that are sparked!
Reactions?Do you use some form of Idea Journal now? How is it working? If you start an Idea Journal... Please share your experience! Questions or reactions? Please leave them in the comments section.
ResourcesA list of tools ranging from simple paper-based to electronics...
Paper-Based- 3x5 cards, Small Assignment Pad, Composition Notebook - you can find these everywhere from office supply store, drug stores, to the grocery aisle.
- Planner Systems - of course you can use your current Franklin Planner, Daytimer, or other calendar/notebook tool. Just get in the habit of having it with you always. Alternatively, carry a smaller pad and tape or transcribe notes you gather back into your planner. (See also the DIY Planner option below...)
- Levenger - If you like the 3x5 size, but want your system to look more professional, check out the Levenger Company. They have an entire system with pre-printed cards, "shirt pocket briefcase" leather cardholders, the works.
- Moleskine - These small black notebooks have been around for centuries and have been carried by the likes of Van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, and Hemingway. A plethora of sizes and formats to choose from. Get inspired by other passionate users at the Moleskinerie site and images on Flickr.
I find these next two tools exciting. The web has allowed contribution and collaboration of tools from all over the world.
- Hipster PDA - The Hipster PDA, introduced a few years ago on the 43 Folders website, a stack of 3x5 cards held together with a binder clip. It's a PDA requiring no batteries, never crashes, and won't shatter if dropped.
- D.I.Y. Planner - The DIY Planner is a do-it-yourself system of templates for printing. Hundreds of templates have been created and are available free. Check out the Hipster PDA templates you can print on 3x5 cards.
Digital
- Digital Voice Recorders - If you prefer to take voice notations use this selection found on Amazon as a guide, or a voice recording add-on for your iPod.
- Computer Software - I don't recommend software as capture tools because of the lack of quick accessibility. However, digital scanners, handheld PDAs, and software such as OneNote for the Tablet PC and Curio for the Mac are nice for transcribing written notes into digital format.
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Comments
I think low tech saves the day on this one. I carry a notebook for written (as in, by hand) meeting notes, etc. I bought it at Target.
I keep a little Moleskine as an idea book. It was an impulse purchase. For creative stuff not linked to current projects/clients, having something kinda sexy is nice, I find.
Posted by: John Whiteside | 06.14.07
Great ideas! Sure beats the post-it notes I have all over my home and office!
Posted by: Elaine Fogel | 06.14.07
Personally, I am a huge fan of using a low-end Palm (currently a Tungsten E2). I keep it with me at all times, and use the Memo feature as my free-form database for ideas. I create categories at will, and then entries within categories as needed. The calendar, to-do list, and contact directory are all built-in and easy to use. As noted in the article, it's great to capture those creative thoughts in real-time and then come back to them at my leisure. The only thing better would be a waterproof version, since all my very BEST thinking seems to occur in the morning shower!
I obtained my first Palm grudgingly, as a reluctant response to peer pressure in a gadget-happy project team. But now, I would be lost without it. I synchronize the handheld with both my home and work computers, so wherever I am, I have the data I need. And even if the handheld crashes (a very rare occurance), I can easily restore the data.
Posted by: Claire F. Kuhl | 06.14.07
Great idea. I simply use notepad on my pc for this.
Posted by: Jim Kukral | 06.14.07
I've been doing this for years. A Moleskine notebook is the best tool I've found, too. Ideas have an extremely short half-life, and the key to making them useful is to GET THEM DOWN on paper somewhere, ASAP.
Posted by: Peter Darling | 06.14.07
Simple, direct, great advice, Paul.
I've been thinking for years that I need something to help capture thoughts and threads floating around in my head. Who would have thought the solution would be so.. simple. But profound.
Nice post.
Posted by: Ann Handley | 06.14.07
The capture device can be broken up further into two compartments: an idea wallet, and a bug list.
I first heard these terms used in a speech on innovation by Tom Kelley, of IDEO.
I use a great deal of 3x5's to improve ideation with this model. However, I have also been experimenting with Jott (for longer than I expected.) The voice->web->email service allows one to call in voice messages that are converted to text then sent to customizable in-boxes. Although it doesn't deliver the tangible artifact and advantage of traditional note-taking, this might be an appropriate tool for others.
Posted by: Rasmussen | 06.14.07
Excellent advice. It is funny but I have considered keeping an idea journal and even bought the notebook but have not yet done it. I hope this will be the reminder to actually implement this simple yet outstanding idea.
Posted by: Neil Anuskiewicz | 06.15.07
When Mike Vance was the dean of Disney University they used 3x5 cards, one for each idea so they could be moved around under different categories during planning with no re-writing bother
They then used 5x7 cards as headers for the different areas of the project.
It worked for Walt! Works for GE! It works for our 5 person accounting / bookkeeping business
Anything you try takes a month or so to produce results so don't give up too soon
Posted by: Jim Asher | 06.15.07
I'm on a computer all the time (at home, at a client's site or in an internet cafe when I travel). I use a blog to jot down ideas, pull swipe, and make web annotations. A blog allows me to create both a chronological record of ideas along with creating keywords/labels for each entry (something that can't be done easily with a paper based system). When I'm walking around without a computer, I jot down quick notes on a piece of paper that I can enter later on.
See my "Idea Journal" at http://idea-nursery.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Jonathan Macagba | 06.17.07
What great feedback, gang.
Great advice for those just starting or looking for a more effective system for themselves!
Posted by: Paul Williams | 06.17.07
I try to digitize as much information as possible, but have more recently started carrying the pocket Moleskine notebook with me as well. Definitely a faster way to jot down things quickly, which can either be accomplished quickly later, or transferred to digital format if necessary.
Posted by: Matt Heinz | 06.19.07
I use the Neenah paper notebook I got free at the HOW Design Conference. Then I start a new notebook at each HOW Design Conference - when the inspiration really starts to flow.
I try to remember to trade notebooks with my husband every once in a while to help each others' great ideas come to fruition.
I find most ideas come in the car or the shower, when my laptop just can't do the trick.
Posted by: Raffi Darrow | 06.21.07
This was worth it just to learn how to pronounce mo-lay skin-ay... I'm positively addicted to those.
MOLESKINE NOTEBOOKS
I keep one in my purse at all times -- have them in pocket and larger sizes. Sometimes I'll transfer my cocktail napkin, post-it notes, back of envelopes ideas to a larger Moleskine at the end of the week.
STORAGE BOX
I went to the Container store and got a flat storage box with a label for "ideas." When I see a card, magazine article, picture, or make notes -- I just plop them in the box for safekeeping, and go through those idea starters when I feel "stuck."
COMPUTER PROGRAMS
The Apple Store has a great program called Notebook (circus ponies software). You can download it for free for 30 days. When I want to permanently log ideas or have everything handy, I log them into notebooks made for each project or idea. the software is specifically made for creatives. I use this software to track my writing, produce theater shows, and plan events. Not to mention, keep my favorite design inspirations handy.
Posted by: Kim McGaw | 06.21.07
This was worth it just to learn how to pronounce mo-lay skin-ay... I'm positively addicted to those.
MOLESKINE NOTEBOOKS
I keep one in my purse at all times -- have them in pocket and larger sizes. Sometimes I'll transfer my cocktail napkin, post-it notes, back of envelopes ideas to a larger Moleskine at the end of the week.
STORAGE BOX
I went to the Container store and got a flat storage box with a label for "ideas." When I see a card, magazine article, picture, or make notes -- I just plop them in the box for safekeeping, and go through those idea starters when I feel "stuck."
COMPUTER PROGRAMS
The Apple Store has a great program called Notebook (circus ponies software). You can download it for free for 30 days. When I want to permanently log ideas or have everything handy, I log them into notebooks made for each project or idea. the software is specifically made for creatives. I use this software to track my writing, produce theater shows, and plan events. Not to mention, keep my favorite design inspirations handy.
Posted by: Kim McGaw | 06.21.07
Excellent article.
The first lesson of management science is to choose wisely and utilize scarce resources optimally. During the curtain raiser before the Mahabharata War, Duryodhana chose Sri Krishna's large army for his help while Arjuna selected Sri Krishna's wisdom for his support. This episode gives us a clue as to the nature of the effective manager - the former chose numbers, the latter, wisdom.
Posted by: bhattathiri | 06.25.07
I would have to agree with one of the comments above that the best ideas come to me in the car or in the shower. I'm thinking about putting a grease-pencil set in the shower and taking verbal notes in my cell phone while in the car. I keep a journal, but have not used it to write down random thoughts and ideas. However, based on the recommendations on this post, I am going to try this out and see how it works. I guess this means I will have to carry my journal around with me most everywhere.
Posted by: Scott Townsend | 06.26.07
I'm happy to read this; I "downgraded" to paper once more. Instead of a notebook in which I never found the information again I now use simple notepad papers that fit smoothly in my wallet (a kind of wallet for waiters, but much more elegant :-)
When I'm not at my desk and want to note something, I create a small mindmap. I write the date in the middle, circle it (uninspired but takes no time), draw a first line from the center and wite a symbol oder abbrevation, to which the idea, information etc belongs; on the second level, I jot down the idea in few words. As I reduced my project to 5 its easy to keep an overwiew and collect a lot of information on a small sheet of paper. When I'm at my workspace again, I fill my project mindmaps with the ideas from my notes. End of story. Maybe you like this concept too.
Posted by: anette | 10.31.07