Capturing ideas – the Moleskine notebook
(www.myorganizedbiz.com) – I have great, profound, and amazing thoughts. Usually at night. Or in the car. Or somewhere, sometime when I can’t really capture them. It never fails that I have a terrific idea, or someone calls, or I meet someone who doesn’t have a card, and I have no paper and pen. (Well, it used to.)
It’s frustrating. But a few years back I bought a small Moleskine notebook. And now, when I need to capture information, ideas, or just scrape off swirling thoughts, I have a place to do so.
Sometimes, I’m in the middle of a project and other ideas keep vying for my attention. Grab the notebook, jot things down, and then I can get back to what I was doing. Other times, I’ll be on the bus, thinking about post ideas or what I have to do next. Maybe I suddenly remember an email I forgot to send. Yipes! I write that in the notebook, too.
The point is, I have one place where I capture ideas. One place where I write things, rather than a thousand pieces of paper or sticky notes that can get lost. I don’t have to go searching.
And believe me, I used to search.
I’d tear apart my entire desk, looking for something. Trying to remember just where I put that envelope with a phone number on the back. Or worse, I’d run across an envelope with a number and first name. No context. No clue to tell me what it was for.
I find that in my notebook, I can flesh out an idea, briefly. I can jot more than a name and phone number, but also the reason I’m keeping that number and name. Later, I can add things to my to-do list, put numbers in the address book, or further plan out project ideas.
Don’t let those ideas get away from you. You don’t need a Moleskine, but I have to admit I do like it because it has an elastic band to keep it closed, and a bookmark to help me find my place again. You can use a small notepad and a rubber band if you’d like. Just grab those ideas so you can use them later.
I have a cheaper do-it-yourself alternative tomorrow. In the mean time, tell me what device you use to capture ideas.