We are in the first week of January - the week of new
beginnings, right?
Have you been coming up with new ideas for your business for
2012? Our first tip of the year is to write down your ideas when you think of
them. Candy makers live fast-paced lives, moving from chocolate tempering
to supply ordering to payroll, oftentimes all within the first hour of the
day. If you don't write down what you're thinking, there is a pretty good
chance you'll forget it.
Here are some of the useful ways RCI staff and members track
ideas:
- Pencil and Paper - Sounds old-fashioned, we know, but it works! Keep a notebook and pen with you at all times and you'll be ready to write down (or draw) those brilliant ideas when they come.
- Apps (this is a small sampling of the many available note-taking apps for your smart phone)
- Notes - Most smart phones have a 'notes' app that allows you to type in notes to be saved in your phone. You can save it and get back to it later and you can usually email your note as well.
- Evernote - This cross-platform application allows you to keep all of your brains in one place and access them from anywhere. Our favorite feature: when you search by keyword it actually searches handwritten text inside of your images (Example: Take a picture of a handwritten sticky note and it saves it and includes the handwritten text in the search!). From evernote.com: "You're always moving, your notes should be too. With Evernote, your memories are on every computer, phone and device you use."
- reQall - This app lets you record your ideas and then send them to yourself in a variety of ways (text or email, for example). Also incorporated is a reminder option to help you 'reQall' your notes. We haven't used them together, but the reQall website says there is a reQall for Evernote to get the best of both applications
- Email - Sitting at home on your computer? Email yourself the idea so you'll have it in your inbox when you get to work. Of course, you can usually do this with your smart phone as well.
- Google Notes - Google Notes allows you to collaborate with multiple users. Rather than emailing your colleague back and forth, you can share a notes page and see each other's additions and edits. Plus, if you already have a Google account, it's one less username and password to remember.
We know this is just a few of the many ways to write down
your thoughts. Share your ideas in the comments below: How do you take
notes and ensure you don't forget those great middle-of-the-night ideas?
Be sure to check back for next week's tip! Want a hint? We
have an answer to a sticky question.
