How to Capture Ideas

34 Comments

colored-pencils.jpg
Photo: Sofia Katariina

My work requires me to interact with many types of people. And, during the course of my meeting them I have come up with three categories of people so far, based on my observations on how people manage their work:

  1. People who rely one-hundred-percent on their memory. These people remember each and every detail of what has been discussed.
  1. People who do not rely on their memory, and always carry a small notebook with them. Such people are meticulous, highly efficient, steadfast, and always well-organized.
  1. People who rely one-hundred-percent on their memory, but do not have the capability to afterwards remember the details of the discussion. This reduces their productivity.

Writing things down helps in collecting and organizing your thoughts. Your thoughts seem more concrete when you can see them in front of you. I like thinking on paper, because it forces me to be specific with my thoughts. Plus, I have my thinking process written down so that I have a way of recollecting my thoughts.

I also find that writing my ideas down tend to lighten my mental load. Once written down, I can let that thought bubble burst. By letting one thought subside, I can easily move on to another with a blank slate.

I own several idea notebooks to keep track of spontaneous ideas. I prefer the small spiral bound books that fits in your hands. They are easy to fit in a purse or pocket, which means I am more likely to carry it with me. I get mine from Target for $1.29, they have a hardcover with a snap closure. I have them sprinkled around the house and inside every bag I own, so that I’ll always have something to dump my thoughts on.

Ever since I’ve adopted to writing everything down, not a thought is lost. This also makes linking ideas easy when I need to do creative brainstorming.


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This entry was posted on Wed, Oct 10, 2007 at 7:06 am and is filed under productivity. Email this page.

34 Responses (22 Comments, 12 Trackbacks ):

Comments

  1. hemant

    Oct 10 07, 8:38 am PDT

    1

    yup. this is key. the more you can write down, the more you are freed to think. and make sure it’s of the size where you’ll take it *everywhere* with you. i will often forget to take my phone, but almost never forget my notebook.

    at first it seems weird to write stuff down. but once you start doing it, it becomes addictive. you never know when you’ll want to refer back to that suggestion for a dive bar, book, website, or product. or when you’ll want to remember an intelligent quote or advice from a friend.

    i get my notebooks from the motherland, where they cost about $.25 each. but I love them because they are hardcover (by the time the hardcover is destroyed - i’m just about finishing the pages in the book), and they fit perfectly in my back pocket (I find moleskines to be too large for me to carry everywhere with me)

  2. Tina Su

    Oct 10 07, 9:56 am PDT

    2

    Thanks for the comment Hemant. I know what you mean. I have a moleskin that I just started to use, but it stays at home, I find it slightly big for me to carry everywhere. Motherland = India, yes? :)

  3. Priscilla Palmer

    Oct 11 07, 3:19 pm PDT

    3

    Just a note to let you know that, I added you to my list of tags to join in Alex Shalman’s “Caring Compassion Charity”.

  4. Angela

    Oct 11 07, 4:31 pm PDT

    4

    I can relate. I also got into journaling (& sketching) my ideas/thoughts/quotes I come across in the many notebooks I own. The great part about looking for one is the variety of styles, sizes, themes, textures you can find that suits each persons desire to write (or draw since it is an easier way to recall ideas for the visual memory folks like myself). I’ve found once I’ve purchased a new book it’s inspiring enough to have me look for new ideas to fill the pages with. At other times I also have the ‘voice memo’ option on my cell phone for those moments on the road :)
    (btw, great photo attachment above!)

  5. Jorge Barba

    Oct 11 07, 4:47 pm PDT

    5

    I’m the type that remembers everyhing. It also helps that I have photographic memory. But still I’ve made a habit of writing things down in either a small notebook or OneNote, like you said you can always come be back to it and review it. This always helps because you actually make new idea connections. Great post!

  6. Sam Chan

    Oct 11 07, 4:56 pm PDT

    6

    I totally agree with you, Tina.

    Writing down helps in collecting and organizing your thoughts. There is great wisdom in writing down our thoughts.

    “One minute spent writing it down will do more to bring it about than ten years of dreaming, wishing, and talking about it.”

    Best Wishes
    Let’s Acquire Wisdom and Live with Passion

  7. Tina Su

    Oct 12 07, 10:45 am PDT

    7

    Hey Ange! Question, do you ever come back and write down what you recorded on your “voice memo”. I’ve tried that before, and found that I always left the voice recording there and never actually wrote them down. hehe.. Thanks for commenting!

  8. Tina Su

    Oct 12 07, 10:46 am PDT

    8

    Hi Jorge,
    Thanks for giving your 2cents. I wished I had a perfect memory. :) Best, Tina

  9. Tina Su

    Oct 12 07, 10:47 am PDT

    9

    Hmmmm.. I love that quote “One minute spent writing it down will do more to bring it about than ten years of dreaming, wishing, and talking about it.” I’m gonna write this one down. Thanks for sharing Sam!

  10. Yolanda

    Oct 16 07, 8:12 pm PDT

    10

    In China, there is an old saying that”Bad noting is even better than good memory” That’s it.

  11. Sarah F

    Oct 17 07, 2:48 am PDT

    11

    “Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don’t have film.” I have learnt this the hard way, now I take my notepad (polaroids) everywhere I go.

  12. Tina Su

    Oct 17 07, 7:22 am PDT

    12

    Thanks Yolanda and Sarah F!

    I love the quotes.

  13. Junelle

    Oct 18 07, 6:17 am PDT

    13

    I belong to the #2 as well, but I don’t think I am as organized as you are. I don’t have a notebook with me when I travel, so if I remember something, I make a note on my cellular phone.

  14. Sachin2

    Oct 19 07, 9:51 pm PDT

    14

    The more you can write down, the more you are free to think. Make sure your notebook is of the size where you’ll take it *everywhere* with you. i will often forget to take my phone, but almost never forget my notebook.

    At first it seems weird to write stuff down. but once you start doing it, it becomes addictive. You never know when you’ll want to refer back to that suggestion for a dive bar, book, website, or product or when you’ll want to remember an intelligent quote or advice from a friend.

  15. Tina Su

    Oct 20 07, 1:05 am PDT

    15

    Thank you Junelle and Sachin! Love your inputs. Tina

  16. Gamy Rachel

    Nov 26 07, 8:40 pm PST

    16

    Yes, good tips. I do keep note books for ideas too, but not as many as you do. Perhaps I should start to keep many note books handy around my house, so that they are always within reach.
    I like post it too, pasting it near my PC, i will surely not miss ;)

    Best
    Gamy

  17. Farooq Azam

    Nov 27 07, 8:52 am PST

    17

    Thanks, nice post.

    How about putting things in your mobile-phone’s notes?.. This will come much handy when you don’t like to carry a note-book with you. :-)

  18. mentalmosaic

    Dec 17 07, 9:28 am PST

    18

    Great post! I love carrying a notebook with me everywhere and catching those fleeting inspirations that I might otherwise forget. Plus, since I’m in Italy now, it helps me remember new words that I’ve learned, as well as words I want to look up later.

    I found you via the Carnival of Creative Growth, by the way. Did you see my article there entitled “Write Yourself a Permission Slip”?

  19. jd

    Feb 14 08, 11:43 pm PST

    19

    Hey Tina -

    I use a post-it notes. I try to limit each post-it to a key concept, insight or action. I find that it’s easy for me to then stick the post-it wherever I need it most. There’s something nice too about having focused little post-it notes that I can easily shuffle.

  20. Jonathan Mead

    Feb 16 08, 12:19 am PST

    20

    I think I need to take your advice. I’ve been doing list of 20 or 100 things (ie. 100 desires of 20 things I need/want to do) but it helps a lot to write things down as you think of them. Time for me to go get a notepad.

  21. Mohit

    Mar 13 08, 6:41 am PDT

    21

    I agree - writing clears my head, and allows me room to think. Also, blogging regularly helps me express myself, and develop thoughts. I will say I don’t have written goals - I’ve just never done it. Maybe in the future…

    Thanks for the tips!
    Mohit Garg
    India-Designs

  22. elena

    Mar 15 08, 2:34 pm PDT

    22

    Yes its a record of what you were thinking. I have already noticed how interesting it is to just go back a month to see what I was thinking then. I believe that when you have kept a record of your thoughts for quite a while you’ll have some fascinating reading on your hands. It can also show you how you have changed and improved

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