Comments on: Secrets of an obsesssive note taker gone bad http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:50:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: mitch http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-139112 mitch Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:16:36 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-139112 Ryan must be thrilled. Although he is good at finance and the finance aspect of the discussion was getting a bit complicated - you wish he were there so that he could have brought you a pen. And perhaps a cup of coffee? Ryan must be thrilled. Although he is good at finance and the finance aspect of the discussion was getting a bit complicated - you wish he were there so that he could have brought you a pen. And perhaps a cup of coffee?

]]> By: Stephanie West Allen http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138564 Stephanie West Allen Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:49:38 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138564 Read one of the books by Harry Lorayne, do what he suggests, and your memory will be astounding. Read YOU CAN'T TEACH A KID TO RIDE A BIKE AT A SEMINAR and you will see that the author suggests asking for a pen in a situation in which you are trying to persuade someone. Read one of the books by Harry Lorayne, do what he suggests, and your memory will be astounding. Read YOU CAN'T TEACH A KID TO RIDE A BIKE AT A SEMINAR and you will see that the author suggests asking for a pen in a situation in which you are trying to persuade someone.

]]> By: Dale http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138553 Dale Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:59:59 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138553 Hey, whatever is agreed to in a meeting is going to be in the contract at the end of it all. The only problem I forsee is having to rehash stuff you seemingly agreed to in principle beforehand. Hey, whatever is agreed to in a meeting is going to be in the contract at the end of it all. The only problem I forsee is having to rehash stuff you seemingly agreed to in principle beforehand.

]]> By: JohnMcG http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138543 JohnMcG Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:53:07 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138543 A perfect microcosm of Brazen Careerist's advice -- do whatever is possible to look smart and delay being exposed as a fraud for as long as possible. I suppose it's worked so far... A perfect microcosm of Brazen Careerist's advice — do whatever is possible to look smart and delay being exposed as a fraud for as long as possible.

I suppose it's worked so far…

]]> By: Kristina Summers http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138541 Kristina Summers Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:52:09 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138541 Very funny! I too have learned that if I don't write it down then the info goes in one ear and right out the other. In my line of work, details are crucial so I have taken my note taking a step further. I scribble notes at every meeting (working for the government means A LOT OF MEETINGS) and when I get back to my desk I re-write those notes on my PC and re-organize my thoughts. I find I usually remember more this way and then I have my meeting notes filed awway by date in a format that won't leave me scratching my head wondering if I wrote down an "L" or an 1.... Very funny! I too have learned that if I don't write it down then the info goes in one ear and right out the other. In my line of work, details are crucial so I have taken my note taking a step further. I scribble notes at every meeting (working for the government means A LOT OF MEETINGS) and when I get back to my desk I re-write those notes on my PC and re-organize my thoughts. I find I usually remember more this way and then I have my meeting notes filed awway by date in a format that won't leave me scratching my head wondering if I wrote down an "L" or an 1….

]]> By: Benjamin Strong http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138491 Benjamin Strong Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:52:03 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138491 I am so crazy about note taking. I really liked Luca's idea of using your mobile phone. I have actually taken photos with it and converted them to pdf files. It works! I have also invested in a cheap digital voice recorder. If I feel a meeting is important enough I ask if I can record it. Often the people I am meeting with understand the importance of the meeting and agree. Otherwise I stick to pen and paper. I am so crazy about note taking. I really liked Luca's idea of using your mobile phone. I have actually taken photos with it and converted them to pdf files. It works!

I have also invested in a cheap digital voice recorder. If I feel a meeting is important enough I ask if I can record it. Often the people I am meeting with understand the importance of the meeting and agree.

Otherwise I stick to pen and paper.

]]> By: Andrea http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138486 Andrea Fri, 14 Mar 2008 23:01:08 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138486 When this happens to me, I just slash the artery in my thumb with a paper clip; a little bloodletting really shows how invested I am in what I'm doing. This one's free, Penelope. When this happens to me, I just slash the artery in my thumb with a paper clip; a little bloodletting really shows how invested I am in what I'm doing.

This one's free, Penelope.

]]> By: Chris Yeh http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138485 Chris Yeh Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:43:04 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138485 My habit of taking and keeping notes (as well as email) has served me well in my career. If you're around long enough, you'll always end up in some kind of legal wrangling. It's always a lot easier to win those if you have it in writing. There is another school of thought that says that you should have a policy to delete all email...that that, I say, if you don't do anything wrong, you have no reason to have such a policy. My habit of taking and keeping notes (as well as email) has served me well in my career. If you're around long enough, you'll always end up in some kind of legal wrangling. It's always a lot easier to win those if you have it in writing.

There is another school of thought that says that you should have a policy to delete all email…that that, I say, if you don't do anything wrong, you have no reason to have such a policy.

]]> By: sifi http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138484 sifi Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:37:24 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138484 I am INFP but somehow I have learned to make meetings work for me. I carry a beautiful spiral bound notebook (3" by 5")and a favorite pen into meetings. I focus on what is being said and jot down key words as the meeting progresses. If it is a small meeting I gently take it over! Then, after the discussion I ask the participants to work with me for ONE minute to craft bullet points from the meeting. I write these down word-for word. (Most meetings of any consequence only cover 3-5 items.) After the meeting, I send a list of action items within 24hrs. I have been told repeatedly that I "give good meeting." Thanks for the fun post. LOL! I am INFP but somehow I have learned to make meetings work for me. I carry a beautiful spiral bound notebook (3" by 5")and a favorite pen into meetings. I focus on what is being said and jot down key words as the meeting progresses. If it is a small meeting I gently take it over! Then, after the discussion I ask the participants to work with me for ONE minute to craft bullet points from the meeting. I write these down word-for word. (Most meetings of any consequence only cover 3-5 items.) After the meeting, I send a list of action items within 24hrs. I have been told repeatedly that I "give good meeting." Thanks for the fun post. LOL!

]]> By: t h rive http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138482 t h rive Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:46:04 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/14/secrets-of-an-obsesssive-note-taker-gone-bad/#comment-138482 Your dry humour cracks me up. I enjoy the informative yet, you know, light-hearted posts. Your dry humour cracks me up. I enjoy the informative yet, you know, light-hearted posts.

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