Myndology Notebook - Hacking Update

About two weeks ago, I posted about how I found a Myndology Junior Notebook and Myndology Index Notebook in my remote part of the earth. I was very happy to have found these, as I was wistful of the shipping cost, and now exchange rate, for the Levenger Circa notebooks. I gave a favourable initial impression of these notebooks, and to date that hasn't changed.

I did mention that I was going to do some hacking on these notebooks, and after a productive 10 minutes with my labeller, I'm happy to say that I've had terrific results for someone as un-crafty as I am. SWMBO, now she's crafty - and I will leave that to you as to how you want to interpret that.

I stayed up very late the first night I had this notebook, essentially reading a novel and doing a brain dump. Any thought and I jotted it down. I enjoyed the feeling of writing in it, and really enjoyed the quality of the paper.

Tabbed Dividers


So then, the next morning, I set out to tab the pages as I had outlined in my initial post. Very simply, I used 3M Post-It Rigid Index Tabs, and added the following "sections":

• Calls - for voicemails to be returned or put into my system when I'm on the road

• Tasks - for capture from meetings, or random thoughts where the notebook is handy.
• File Notes - for notes on my "defined work" from meetings, etc.
• Projects - mind mapping and thinking on paper.
• B.G. - separate tasks for an organization I am involved with.
• WR Ch - my handwritten weekly review checklist (frankly, easier to use than my Splashshopper Checklist).

To get these tabs formatted, I set my label maker to the smallest sized font, and printed them out in a single tape with three spaces between each word. I then printed a second copy, to have one for each side, in case the notebook happened to be upside down. Not so dumb, me.

These tabs have worked famously. Unfortunately, due to operator error, I was often turning to a tab and then writing on the page for the next one, so in the principle of KISS, I slapped a label from my label maker on the front of each page. Works like a charm as a divider now, and it was cheap. This was probably $0.50 that will last for a very long time, if I keep with this notebook system. No hours on the internet searching, no finding the perfect, no spending another $15 at the Levenger store for no reason... this just plain works for me. Yay me for keeping it so simple!


The Advantage over spiral-bound and three-ring

Let me go no further before I say this: yep, I get it, it's just a friggin' notebook. The funny thing about all this is that it showed me how ineffectively I was using my current notebook. Which itselfwas just a friggin' notebook. However, the non-linearity of this one led me to change the way I looked at things. I don't know why it is different than, say, a 3-ring binder, or my old paper planner, but it just is. When I had one of the Franklin Covey planners, it was such wonderful paper that aside from writing appointments in it I was afraid to mark it up. I never used it very well, and certainly not for any note keeping. It was almost an affectation more than it was a planner. All the grand designs I had about keeping notes in the thing all went to pot.

The Myndology products are happy to have you store them in a file folder. Just pull them out. You can write on them and toss them if you need to. There is a feeling of both flexibility and non-permanence about using it that makes my old spiral-bound notebook seem so dated. By the time I stopped using it I was basically using the spiral-bound as a voicemail log - very very inefficient. If I'm going to write, I want it to be efficient and practical for the way I want to work.

The amazing thing is that I fell into a trap with the old Blueline A9. They came with great labels that allowed you to tab the pages, record them in the index, and even archive the notebook itself. However, they are very linear, and even though the pages were perforated, I felt like I was somehow defiling it. Again, I know, it was JUST a friggin' notebook. It was the weirdest feeling, like I wanted to archive all this stuff. In fact, most of it I can just toss, but there the old, used ones sit, on my shelf - the information in them useless and outdated. Somehow, because the pages can be moved, sectioned, more easily removed for filing - somehow this notebook seems better, in every way.

Oh, and it is very comfortable to use if you are a left-hander like me.

Customer Service

I have been speaking with Myndology directly, mostly to let them know about the good success I've had with their products, and to make some suggstions about what I might like to see. They are really quite open and friendly folks, and responded fairly quickly. Because I am a nerd, I did send them to other sites to show what I was suggesting for their product, which they seemed to appreciate. Their products are really quite good, and you owe it to yourself to pick one up and give it a try!

Myndology Notebook

I've just begun trying out a new notebook - the Myndology Journal (in the swish neon blue), and the Myndology Index (in the red). I got these because I had been interested in Levenger's Circa Notebooks, but when I tried to order from their site, the $12 or so starter pack was going to cost me $48 or so in shipping to the Frozen North of Canada. (WAKE UP, LEVENGER! We're a market the size of California, with 90% of us living within an hour of the border! Make it easy to buy from you and guess what - I will. Hose me, and I will rant about it on a blog!)

Anyway, I dropped by Stylus, a very cool fountain pen and ink store in Edmonton. I discovered it after becoming the proud owner of a set of Levenger True Writer pens, one fountain, one ballpoint, scooped from e-bay. Hmmm... an individual can figure out it costs only $8 to ship to Canada. Levenger, you listening yet? Stylus happens to be the local carrier of the Myndology products, which I discovered totally by accident. After paying $16, I walked out with the Journal and Index size. Very nice, if a little more than what our U.S. friends would pay. Still cheap to play with interesting technology.

Overall, the quality of the paper is great. It is better quality than my Blueline A9C, which I have used for several years. I'm not sure how I'm going to archive it, but then again, maybe the fact that the pages are removable, I will be better off trying to file the information than store it in a linear book that I'm too afraid to tear the pages out of. Maybe it was the fact that I was tabbing each month in the Blueline... and referring back to it. I want to start filing my notes properly, not linearly in a book I rarely reference.

The great thing about these is that the pages are removable - you can move them around, put them back in, etc. Look at this video from youtube:



This shows how easy it is. The other great thing is that for left-handers like me, this sort of notebook is actually very comfortable to write with. The rings aren't as harsh as an aluminum spiral of any type, and are definitely easier to write on the front / right side of the page than using a ring binder.

I plan on using the 3M Post-It Durable Index Tabs to organize it into different sections. Right now, it will be:

1. A call sheet - voicemails to return.
2. Tasks - things I need to get into my task list.
3. Notes - the notes I take all the time.
4. Projects
5. A separate section for an organization I'm involved with.

It will be interesting to see how the use of this notebook evolves. I'm quite looking forward to putting it through it's paces.

A long time between posts, and a lot of progress

A long time between posts, and a lot of progress.

It’s been before Christmas since I’ve posted, so Happy New Year.  It’s been a great year for me so far, and if this is a sign of things to come, bring it on!  I have to say that making the decision that GTD was “right for me” has been one of the greatest gifts I have ever given myself.  Not only did I find a system that I can implement, understand, and not feel guilty about, it is simple, allows (allows?  Encourages!) the use of gadgets, and lets me sleep well at night.

I’ve taken to calling David Allen “my cult leader”.  I read a lot of GTD blogs, and I will update list shortly.  SWMBO has even started to read GTD, although she admits that the first section of the book is kind of hard to wade through.  Not like the molasses of wading through The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, but still wading.  (I have to admit, I’ve read the book three times, and I think Getting Things Done should have the first and second sections switched around.)  But at least she is reading it.  I’ve recommended it to a co-worker in another of our branch offices, and even one of our clients who has noticed “something” different about the way I’ve been working.

My inboxes?  Still clear.  My desk?  Still uncluttered, except for the working stuff I keep all over.  I know that I should change, but I’m using 3 wire baskets, side by side, as my “In”, “Out”, and “Pending” buckets.  I like it, they work for me.  (Sometimes, my in-basket has to take 3 inch thick files, so I need a sturdy, deep one.)  My files?  The new ones are all labeled thanks to my Brother P-touch 1280; the rest of the files will be taken care of during our upcoming office move.

I’ve managed a couple of weekly reviews, however, only at the runway level.  They seem rushed, like I’m trying to find out how they work.  It seems like all I’m doing is making sure that everything that should be on my lists is there, and everything that has been done has actually been checked off.  I’m sure that I haven’t got everything on my list yet – I have 95 taks, including 12 projects, but I’m working on it.  I will keep at the weekly review, and try to put more and more into them – goals, long range planning.  I’m likely to change when I do them – maybe Sunday evening at my dining room tab le just isn’t the right time or place.  The thing is – I really have a good feeling about what I’m doing, irrespective of the weekly review.  

So I’ll keep at it.  I’m really quite satisfied with how things are going.  I’m quite happy with where my priorities have moved to – and that’s probably why.

Busy day

Today, SWMBO flew to the We(s)t Coast in order to visit with her Mom and Dad. I'm joining her in a few days, which will give me a little r&r - I haven't really had any time off since our youngest was born in July. I'm looking forward to it.

Today started by taking them to the airport, which in itself is always a bit frustrating with two little kids. We did it, but not without some needless stressing out on my part. Hopefully, SWMBO will forgive me . However, that was just the start to a fairly crazy day. Sent off the Christmas cards, went to the bank to get the cash for the staff Christmas bonuses, then off to a holiday lunch - just plain busy. But - and here is the important part - I whittle through my inbox today until it was clear. I dealt with my e-mail inbox today, until it was clear. And I left my desk clear before I walked out the door. It feels great to walk into a neat office every day, and I am already feeling more in control.

I told SWMBO that I was having a love affair with my label maker. She laughed, but gave me a look that said she thought that there might be more truth than fiction in the joke. Ah, let her figure it out. I am in love with it, but I'm not obsessive about it - much. Just don't ask to borrow it.

The word of the day is "Purge".

The word of the day is “PURGE”

So today, I have been very very productive on the purging and shredding front.  There was another guy in the office today, and he nicknamed me “Enron”.  I have filed files, created labels with my label maker, and shredded junk that I should never have kept in the first place.  It feels great.

My twinboxes (my e-mail inbox and my physical inbox) are both clear.  I am looking around deciding on what to do next.  Getting prepared to do some major work on some major things.  Getting some of my energy back by knowing where stuff is.  It feels outstanding.

I’ve mentioned before Stephanie Winston’s The Organized Executive, which has a similar purge to David Allen’s in Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, the difference being that Winston’s strategy on the purge is to do it in chunks.  Recover an area of desktop real estate, and then move on.  It seems to meld well with Allen’s system, even though he bemoans doing it in chunks as something to be done “only if you have to”.  I totally understand his logic and reasoning, but I’m trying to do it a slightly different way.

Speaking of different ways, GTD has leant itself to “hacks” of all kinds.  Merlin Mann over at 43 Folders has documented several of them, including how to implement it using a notebook, a bunch of 3x5 index cards and a binder clip, etc., etc.  The site is well worth spending a good piece of time on.

I’m getting things ready to take some work home on my major project, trying to get un-stuck.  Ugh.  I’m going to use the 10x2x5 hack, if I can, and I’ll hopefully get to the point where I’ve been able to get it unstuck and successfully sent off.

I’m now tidying things up, getting ready to leave the office and head home.  I’ve worked every day since December 5th, and SWMBO is rightfully frustrated.  The holidays are close at hand, so I will be around a lot then.  Rest and renewal, and maybe a drink or two - I’m looking forward to it.

Let your GTD slide

Today was a day filled with frustration. I had such high hopes – I even went a new route to the office that was suggested by a friend, and saved 10 minutes. How wonderful!

On arrival, our receptionist’s computer was dead, and I had to swap it for one of our spares, thank heaven we have them. Frustrating to lose time you had planned to spend doing other things, especially when the Christmas Crunch is looming. However, we got the problem resolved, and I spent the day essentially putting out fires, or trying to feel like I was being more productive. I did manage to process my "in".

SWMBO has long been searching for the "perfect" planner or notebook to jot her thoughts. After my reading several blogs on GTD (including Michael Hyatt's, which I've posted a permanent link to), I've read many people rave about the Moleskine (pronounced mole-ah-skein-ah) notebook. I found them at Notables, a gifty-type stationary store, and $15.00 I had another gift for my wife. I'll secretly have a good look to see what everyone is fussing about...

Personally, I've chosen a made-in-canada option - the Blueline A9 notebook. Great notebook, spiral bound, able to take a beating (it would seem), and perforated pages. The only thing missing is a built-in ribbon / bookmark, but I'm sure I will live with it. $8.95 at Grand and Toy. I am needing to admit, though, that for the luxury of it, I am sorely tempted with another Canaadian offering - one of the Pierre Belvedere notebooks (right below the Moleskine). Leather-look, perforated pages and a bookmark. Very nice looking, but at $17.95, I'm sticking with my Blueline A9.

FWIW, this relates because of an article I read at Michael Hyatt's site. He's right - I've only started taking notes on everything for a week, and alreadyd I've found them useful to refer to.

Tomorrow will be better.

Task lists and label makers

Well, over the past three days, I was very successful in working through my task list. Naturally, I didn't get all of them done, but I did make progress on a big project that had been stuck, and got it moved. I whacked through a bunch of "Next Actions", hacked through my in-basket on both days, and felt like I got a lot accomplished in a short time. Too many out-of-office meetings the last two days means that I haven't had the chance to really move on stuff, but I've been keeping the incoming stuff under control. I'm very happy with where I am, but hope to make some larger breakthroughs soon, maybe this weekend.

In fact, I think that may be what keeps me motivated. I keep working, hoping that immediately before I feel the "mind like water", I have a "EUREKA!" moment. It's coming. I already feel like the rushing river has at least turned into a small lake, with defined edges. Yes, the wind ripples the water a lot, and the currents can still pull you under, but at least they aren't constantly visibile in a rushing torrent that threatens to pull me under. I consider that real progress.

I took David Allen's advice (surprise) on another issue - a labeller. Well, I sort of took his advice, I didn't buy the optional AC adapter that is the same price as the labeller that I got (*blink*). Admittedly, the unit I bought had a $30 inducement in the form of a mail-in rebate. I decided on the Brother P-Touch PT-1280, which has the rebate on it until December 31st, 2005. I had put off a buying decision for a bit, as I thoguht the best/easiest/quickest/most practical solution would have been a computer-based printer such as the PT-1500PC or the Dymo Labelwriter 330 Turbo. I think my PT-1280 is a wonder. It's right beside me in my desk drawer. It doesn't require that my laptop is up and running. It doesn't take up a USB port. I just pull it out, tap out the label on the QWERTY keyboard, hit Print, and cut the label. Done. I'm going to buy one of the PC connected ones for our receptionist, who has a desktop, but this little Brother unit is outstanding - any handheld is. 6 'AAA' batteries is a little much, but we'll see how long they last before I complain. The thing just works.

Now, here's the kicker. I have, so far, printed ONE LABEL. That's how effective this thing seems to be. It won me over immediately. I completedly understand why David Allen has recommend it in his book and recommend that you don't share.

I should mention something about Staples - they have a great online system for registering for "mail-in" rebates. You go online, follow the instructions, enter the information from the receipt, and you're done. Outstanding of them to make the wait the hardest part of the whole process.