In today’s creative economy, the best ideas are king. Even traditional sectors like banking and manufacturing are recognizing the vital importance of innovation. If you aspire to a creative career, there is no better time to start than now. However, as any veteran professional will tell you, ideas are fragile; they often vanish without warning. Without a reliable system to capture creative ideas, we can never truly benefit from them. This guide will show you how to build that essential framework.
I have spent years refining various systems to ensure the creative concepts in my head have the best chance of execution. After testing numerous methods, I have developed a streamlined workflow that prioritizes consistency. You do not have to replicate my exact process, but it is crucial to develop a system that works for your specific needs, perhaps by exploring varied ideation techniques.
The first step is realizing that human memory is far from perfect. If you do not record an idea immediately, you will likely lose it forever. We have all experienced “birthing” a great concept in the middle of the night, only to find it forgotten by morning. To ensure your thoughts lead to actionable results and structured brainstorming guidelines, you must commit to writing them down the moment they strike.
How’d that work for you?
So for me, I start with various methods for getting the raw idea down just to archive it in a way I can’t forget later.
Apps
I use a mobile phone app called Captio for IOS that is pre-programmed with my email address. All I have to do is write the idea down like a text, hit “Send” and it automatically is sent to my inbox. This is an incredibly simple and easy way to jot down an idea, and with it in my inbox, I’m sure to deal with it later. For a little more organization, I use Things as my task list. It’s really a dumping ground for ideas, but it allows me to put them in categories, and convert them to action steps. It’s a fantastic app that syncs via all my devices, and it also provides an email address so I can easily turn an email into a task. There are cheaper options and here’s a good list, but I just love the design and flexibility of this app.
I designed my planner called Unique: The Ultimate Planner for Creative Professionals after working with more than 30 similar journals and planners. It features minimal templates so you’re not having to create lists or daily calendars, but it’s plenty open so you’re not spending all day answering stupid questions and filling out useless information. It’s greatest asset is that it helps you prioritize what’s most important. It comes with enough pages for about six months, so I’d encourage you to try it.
For total portability, I also carry a small Field Notes notebook in a leather case the size of a wallet. I have this on me pretty much all the time—especially when I’m not carrying anything else. I found the leather cover on Amazon, and it comes with a loop for a Fisher Space Pen (which I love for writing in bed or lying by the pool). This particular leather case is a bit thick, so I’m still looking. Let me know if you’ve discovered the ideal thin leather notebook cover this size.
By my bedside, I keep a stack of notepads, as well as The Pilots Pen. The pen features a tiny light on the tip of the pen so I can write in the dark when ideas hit in the middle of the night. With this amazing pen, I can write for hours and never wake up Kathleen, or keep from turning on the overhead light on late night flights.
When it comes to organization, that’s another blog post, so stay tuned. The important thing to remember today is that getting things done starts with getting things down.
First published on PhilCooke.com. Used by permission.
