I saw a wonderful presentation by David Brooks at the National Book Festival ( you can view the whole prestation on the Library of Congress YouTube page). During the presentation, he reached into his back pocket and brought out a thick, beat-up notebook where he keeps his notes. This motivated me to wake up this morning and stick my own notebook into my pocket so that I could begin taking my own notes everywhere I go.
About two years ago, I began using a 3X5 notebook for taking notes. I like to use Field Notes brand notebooks because the are slim and durable. As a writer, I like to capture ideas for writing. As a leader, I like to jot down possibilities. As a reader, I like to have somewhere to place ideas as I am reading.
When I wore a uniform every day, I would place it in my front pocket and reach in there when I needed to jot down a note or an idea. I even took it to meetings, because then I could take notes and capture every idea that I had. The main reason I went to a small notebook, however, was to bridge the desire to take notes while also having my hand ready to greet people. This changed when I began wearing a suit and had another notebook to capture ideas. The problem, however, is that the new notebook was not portable and doesn’t go every where with me.
So, now, after seeing Mr. Brooks example, I am going to have this handy every moment of the day—so I can capture the moments as they hit me. I hope to pass the benefit on to you.