Capture Your Thoughts. You Don’t Want to Lose a Great Idea

I can look back several years and find notes on a meeting, poignant quotes from books I have read, project notes and hundreds of other things. Most significantly, I can look back and find my ideas.

What is one good idea worth to you? I know I don’t want to lose any of mine. But if you don’t get it written down it may be lost. Find a way to capture it for later use.

Your success depends on how well you think. You are not paid to collect, sort, store or retrieve information, although you may do all of these things. You are paid to interpret that information and to create and implement new ideas.

Glenn Dietzel, Author and Grow Rich 2008, Morgan James Publishing

Five Days of Action

• DAY ONE Ideas have shaped the world. Some ideas have been worth millions, or have profoundly shaped the lives of people for the better. Some have changed whole nations in positive and profound ways. Ideas matter. Record yours.

• DAY TWO Today is about capturing your ideas. This will not only help you to remember and retrieve information, it will help you to think bigger. The very act of articulating what is in your head gives it life and clarity. Be intentional about saving your thoughts for written or recorded posterity. Take that information and turn it into positive momentum, action that will make a difference in your life or the lives of others.

• DAY THREE Starting today, carry with you some means of capturing your thoughts at all times. Use whatever works best for you in the various situations you typically experience. Don't get stuck on whether it's high tech or low tech - it doesn't matter. Get into the habit of recording anything you want to remember.

• DAY FOUR Begin to organize your thoughts. Plan for a way to access your ideas and information easily. You've written or recorded it, now make it possible to find it later.

• DAY FIVE Why you? Why did you have that particular idea pop into your head? Maybe it's yours to run with. What practical action can you take that will start the ball of an idea rolling down the hill? Write an article or a book, record or make a presentation, talk to someone who can make it happen, make a call, a drawing or a request. If it's a good idea, give it life.

Please Share Your Experience or Insight About This Topic?

Do you have a great story about this topic? I invite you to share it! I'm sure your experience and insight will prove helpful to someone else.

The objective of this site and our whole service is to help others be more productive and effective in work, in leadership and life in general. So your story is important. If it fits the topic, I'll use it.

Thanks for doing this.
Gary