“Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.” ~Joseph Pulitzer
Most people never start an Idea Journal. It’s not because they don’t believe in the value of keeping one. (Read “14 Ways an Idea Journal Accelerates Growth & Success.”) The failure stems from the lack of a “no-stress” process for recording and reviewing their precious golden nuggets. You can avoid that pitfall once you use the process I’m going to reveal. It’s the exact method I use. And it has helped me move beyond getting started to gaining momentum and achieving a state of “flow”. It can do the same for you if you let it. And here’s how…
1. Start with an “empty” spiral notebook.
Grab a 3-subject notebook or purchase one from the local store. A few years ago I purchased a nice leather-bound journal and stopped using it after Day 2. Keep it simple. You start the journal “empty” but end the year “full” of wisdom.
2. Print this post and tape it to the first blank page of your journal.
I did that with Alex Mandossian’s post [Full story: “How Idea Journals Accelerate Business Growth”]. I underlined key words to guide me on the journey. All that was missing were the step-by-step instructions. But I’m providing that to you here. Step-by-step instructions are more helpful “in” your journal than on the web or inbox. So print this page.
3. Capture each golden nugget one at time.
The trick is not to evaluate or judge your ideas. What to capture? Quotes, product ideas, blog post/article ideas, “aha” moments, tips, accomplishments, mistakes (definitely don’t want to repeat those!) and end-of-the year insights. I also tape my 90-day action plan on a blank page. When to capture? Daily, multiple times a day or weekly. Go with your flow.
“Advanced Tips for Maximum Capture, Organization and Reflection”
• Number each entry (you’ll feel great about the quantity)
• Leave plenty of white space (3-4 lines) between entries (easy on the eyes)
• Alternate between blue and black ink (easier on the eyes)
• Date top of page when entries are for a different day (you’ll thank me @ year’s end)
• Start each entry with a logical category (i.e. BLOG POST, KEYWORD, QUOTE, AHA, etc)
• Write whenever you have an “idea” (never force it)
4. Rediscover the gold in the nugget.
Remember, this is a fun and flexible process where you benefit. So review weekly, monthly or as needed according to your flow. How to review? Flip through each page. Scan or read what you want. Fill yourself with whatever you need at the moment: ideas, inspiration, gratitude or action. Categories play a major role in effective scanning!
5. Reap the rewards of your gold mine.
Used an idea? Strikethrough the item as you complete them. When I implement an idea (or during my “review”), I take a highlighter or red pen. I draw a diagonal line through the entry. In big letters I write “DONE” and record the date. Imagine the power of flipping (I mean “reviewing”) your Idea Journal later and visually seeing a bunch of “DONES”. Trust me. It feels great!
6. Adjust these steps to fit your productivity rhythm.
Remember this is your Idea Journal. The point is to implement a process that solves your problem—capturing, rediscovering and reaping the rewards now of ideas and accomplishments to spark additional success. Use the advanced tips or make your own until you get your flow.
When you aopt this “no-stress” go-with-your-flow process, you’ll have an invaluable tool for improving your performance and achieving better results. So, what’s your greatest challenge keeping you from improving your performance now? Simply share your greatest challenge with me. And I’ll send you the details to a private teleconference designed to address the concerns of results-focused busy people like you.
You’re invited to a private teleconference designed for results-focused people like you.
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