Over the years, I have carried a journal with me when I go to meetings, attend seminars, or have coffee with someone. It’s a just spiral-bound notebook into which I can jot notes, ideas and insights. Every couple of weeks, I rifle through the pages from the previous month. In doing so, I am reminded of tidbits that might be helpful in improving what I do. Rarely are these insights anything earth-shattering. You can’t make constant course changes and maintain a successful business. But little adjustments, based on comments of trusted colleagues, can have a material impact over time. So how do you do this effectively?
Choose the right platform. Maybe it’s my age, but I journal on paper rather into a smart-phone or tablet. Paper allows me to draw quick diagrams, side notes, and so on that allow me to emphasize a particular idea. Today’s tablet software allows you to do this as well. But in my opinion, it’s still somewhat clumsy to use. Besides, there’s just something more permanent about writing something down than typing it into a device. (There is research supporting the argument that writing allows the brain better process the information.)
Be disciplined about recording your insights. I journal after certain experiences. I journal when meeting with colleagues. I journal while researching and reading. Sometimes I just sit someplace and write down my thoughts when inspiration hits. I’m careful not to edit while journaling. The key is to take in as much as you can. You can go back and organize it later. If a conversation with a colleague gets so lively that journaling would break the rhythm, I’ll just jot down keywords and fill in the blanks immediately after. If I can’t remember the significance of a word or phrase, I’ll call the colleague and say, “I wrote this down, but don’t remember its significance.” Most times, they can jog my memory.
Make review a habit. We all seem to be struggling with too much to do. But we all have the same amount of time in each day. Reviewing your journal should not be a time-consuming effort. I generally spend 10-15 minutes each time. I go back 30 days and just turn the pages looking for inspiration. It can be tempting to make a list of five things I should do based on this review. But that’s unrealistic. Choose one insight and implement it. Occasionally, I’ll also refer back to the journal when something jogs my memory about a particular decision or conversation. Then I can review what the person said. In some cases, I’ll reconnect to explore the issue further. My colleagues do the same with me.
You may be thinking, “Well, he works for himself. He has the luxury of taking time to journal.” No so, pretty much every success leader I know journals. Smarter decisions don’t come on command. Many take time to evolve. Journaling is a great way to capture the key elements and considerations. So, stop by the local bookstore. Buy yourself a nice journal and begin. You may be surprised at the insights come flowing forth.