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!
I have been a fan of OneNote for quite some time. It helped me organize a new class I created that didn't have an actual book the students would buy. OneNote was a great place to organize everything!
I started using OneNote in 2003 and blogged about at http://www.prismlegal.com/wordpress/index.php?m=200312#post-121 in Dec 2003. I rely on it heavily. I'm generally not a Microsoft fan but I love OneNote.
Anyone using 2003 version should upgrade to 2007 - it's much improved. I don't say that for rest of Office Suite.
If you love Onenote, you should head over the to www.iheartonenote.com, the world's one and only community site for OneNote lovers everywhere. If you join between September 22 and September 29, 2009, you will automatically be entered to win a $200 amazon.com giftcard.
Hi Cindy,
As someone who blogged about OneNote, I would love to find ways to cross promote with you - whether we exchange links or you do a guest blog on the www.iheartonenote.com or whatever! Please contact me at info@iheartonenote.com to discuss.
Cheers
Marcus
I have been (and continue to be) an avid user of OneNote, but nothing beats MindManager (from MindJet) for brainstorming, structuring and managing concepts and ideas.
I have build a set of tools around MindManager that I use in my work building navigational and document taxonomies on SharePoint projects.