Have you ever read Marie Wallace's article on LLRX called The Power of Post-Its? If you give presentations, and let's face it, at one time or another we all do, you should take a look at her method of brainstorming and organization.
The idea is to use post-its and a file folder to organize your thoughts when preparing a presentation. I've been using it for years, and whenever I think perhaps I could forgo it, and just open up PowerPoint and start there instead, I've been sorry. PowerPoint encourages a very linear chain of thought, and without figuring out in advance the points you want to make, and organizing them outside of PowerPoint, you can end up with a disorganized mish-mash.
But it is decidedly low-tech. And if someone walks into my office and sees my file folder covered in post-its, I look far from organized. I can live with that, but the truth be told, I would like a neater, cleaner way to accomplish the same thing.
This time I'm trying something different, and using Microsoft OneNote to brainstorm and organize. And I must say, I'm liking it! I've set up one page with the same elements that Marie recommends for organizing; I have other pages within the group with screenshots and URLs. After all of this is compiled, and I know what I want to say, THEN I'll go to PowerPoint to put it all together.
I don't hear much about OneNote, but it really is a great product for keeping notes and otherwise organizing those little bits of information you're not sure what to do with.
The power of post-Its without the post-its is working for me!
