Ideas to help you think and work more creatively
Sand for Your Inbox - January 2006
Happy New Year!
Welcome to the first communiqué from Idea Sandbox.
To maintain your interest, I will provide useful messages on a regular basis (my goal is monthly) providing valuable tips, tools and techniques to help you think and work more creatively.
Here’s the first tip...
Start An Idea Journal
If you want to be more creative and develop better ideas, one of the first steps should be to start an idea journal... your place to jot down ideas, questions, and observations... anything that comes to mind.
Your journal 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 write down thoughts whenever they come to mind.
Having your idea journal handy when you have a neat idea, inspiration, question will allow you to capture ideas before they slip away.
Michael Gelb in his book How To Think Like Leonardo writes...
“Busy lives and job responsibilities tend to drive us toward hard conclusions and measurable results, but the exploratory, free-flowing, unfinished nonjudgmental practice of keeping a notebook encourages freedom of thought and expansion of perspective.”
Well put.
Below I've listed potential approaches for your journal.
Low Tech
- 3x5 cards
- Small Spiral Assignment Pad
- Composition Notebook – you can find these in the stationary section at grocery, drug, office and art supply stores.
Do It Yourself Planner - From the D*I*Y Planner website, download and print templates to create your own planner system.
The Hipster PDA - The Hipster PDA is a fully customizable organizer for your data. Settings are easy to customize, never needs re-booting, and costs pennies to operate.
Levenger 3x5 Solutions - Low tech, but high class... Levenger offers really cool tools supporting the use of 3x5 cards.
Software
PC-based
- Microsoft Office OneNote 2003 - especially great if you have a Tablet PC
- Personal Information Managers (software) Search - via c|Net Download.com
Mac-based
Voice Recorders
Digital Recorders - via Amazon Search
iPod Voice Recorders – via Google Search
Blatant Sales Pitch
Do you have goals, but don’t yet have a plan?
Need a strategic planning session but don’t have time to plan or lead it?
Please send me a note (paul [at] idea-sandbox.com), and I will help you and your business.
I wish you health, happiness and great ideas in this New Year!
Take care,
Paul
Paul Williams
professional problem solver
Idea Sandbox
Idea Sandbox • Seattle | Amsterdam
