Here’s a quick tip for anyone, who wants to ensure they never lose a great idea again.
It’s a fact that you are never more than one great idea away, from achieving a massive breakthrough. That’s why it’s so important for you to be prepared when inspiration strikes, so you can capture it!
Here’s the thing with inspired ideas: They tend to come to you at the worst possible times.
Inspiration has a strange habit of striking when you are not holding a pen and paper or sat in front of a computer. You will be; walking, cycling, waiting for a train, going for a run, stuck in traffic, etc. As a result, it’s way too easy to forget that great idea by the time you get back to the office.
Use a digital audio recorder
Everywhere I go, I carry a small, digital audio recorder with me. It’s about the size of a packet of gum and it can record dozens of hours of audio. As soon as I get an idea, it goes straight into the recorder. Then, at the end of each work day, I go through the recordings I’ve made.
For example, I wrote these 34 marketing tips after listening to 34 short audio recordings of marketing ideas I had captured. So, if you’re looking to treat yourself to an inexpensive yet extremely useful Christmas gift, this might be a great little investment.
How do you capture ideas at the moment?
Also, where do YOU tend to get your best ideas? Let us know!
Photo credit: Banalities
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Excellent idea, Jim.
My ideas are a very important source of my income, so having a reliable system of “harvest” is critical.
I carry an ipod with microphone and small notebook & pencil at all times. Many of my ideas come as images or diagrams and so it’s fast and easy to draw them.
Longer ideas (non pictorial), musical ideas (I play guitar) and discussions with colleagues, are recorded on the ipod.
I also keep a spare note pad and pencil in the car glove box and another in my sports bag, just as a back up.
Best, Robin
Hi Robin. That’s an interesting idea, about capturing images. Thanks for the comment sir!
Anyone else do that?
And to pinch an idea from Paul Boag, if you get an idea while driving and you have a hands free phone, then phone your office and leave an answerphone message.
Thanks for the idea Richard!
Hi Jim,
I use my cell phone to record quick ideas. I have a speed menu created for that so I can access it quick.
I also like the marketing tip #34 from that list.
Thanks
Thanks Toma. That list has been really popular. It’s great so many people find it useful.
Jim – great idea. A couple of things I have done are:
1. send myself a voicemail message by dialling into my mobile phone line
2. recording an audio onto my Blackberry.
I received an iPhone 3GS this week and the audio recording quality on that is great – so much so that I have begin podcasting from the road with it.
Hope these ideas help your readers.
Hi Krishna. Thanks for the feedback. Looks like the use of a phone to record ideas is a popular one.