Came a question:
… you reference so many different ideas, movies, marketers, items from history and current events – how do you keep track of all your ideas?
Do you have notebooks, notecards, post-its or some physical way of noting things that interest you or that you might use later? Or a digital system? Or do you have a phenomenal memory and just track down the movie line, story, or reference when ideas come to you as you’re actually writing?
Love to get a glimpse into how you do it!
No super memory or special system needed.
For over 20 years I have been slavishly adhering to what Gene Schwartz said about reading everything and anything of interest from as wide array of topics as possible. I also like to re-read, re-watch, revisit anything I find especially interesting or potentially relevant whether for now or in the future.
Some stuff sticks, most doesn’t.
But certain bits start to get ingrained in your psychology, and over time you learn how to access it when needed and without even really thinking about it.
It’s the only “app” I’ve ever used.
Something else:
In my experience the best solutions for having more productivity and stronger creativity than the other guy are almost always simple and non-complicated, as well as boring and totally anti-climactic. The more complex and sophisticated the more likely using said solution or app or whatever is simply majoring in the minors.
It reminds me of when I first met Stefania.
She told me about someone’s app for fasting and asked if I’d ever used one.
And I joked:
”yes, it’s called a clock.”
And so it is..
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Ben Settle
