15 Sep Note take like a great: tips from famous note-takers

Many of society’s most famed movers and shakers have been avid note takers, and no wonder; taking notes helps all of us to organise our thoughts and record vital information at work, at school, at university, or on the go. The following famous figures from past and present have used note taking as a tool for aiding their successes; emulate their techniques for superior note taking.

Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison is arguably the most experienced and successful note taker the world has ever known. Edison’s diary is still maintained as an integral part of US historical records, containing over five million pages of invaluable scrawl. His highly detailed system of taking notes was developed to support his life work, ensuring that any useful or important information was recorded. Edison was rather forward thinking in his approach, incorporating things like modern day “to do” lists and actionable items that could be followed up later.

In Edison’s case, note taking also acted as an extremely powerful memory aid. The combination of having the confidence in knowing the information is on record, combined with the improved retention from the process of writing it down, creates a prize winning formula when it comes to memory.

Note take like Thomas Edison: Write clear, thorough notes, diligently noting times, dates and any other important details should you need to refer back to them later.

Source: Wikipedia

Bill Gates

A second prominent ambassador of note taking is one of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates. Several accounts refer to Gates’ scrupulous note taking techniques. Gates does not bring a laptop with him to meetings, but instead uses a yellow notepad which is structured into logical sections. The page is divided into quadrants, each reserved for a different thought. At the bottom of the page he reserves a section for writing down any questions or concepts that may be unfamiliar.

Note take like Bill Gates: Don’t rely on your laptop; note taking by hand encourages engagement with the information. Section your notes according to topic, colour coding if desired.

And a few other familiar names…

Source: Wikipedia

The household names of note taking are not restricted to just Edison and Gates. It is said that one of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs, Sir Richard Branson, carries a notebook with him wherever he goes. John Lennon also used notes in order to write down inspiration for some of the Beatles’ finest musical triumphs. Other great note takers include Ernest Hemingway, George Lucas and Pablo Picasso, to name but a few.

Note take like the greats

Carry your NoteShel or other note-taking device with you wherever you go, to make sure you have a pen and pad to hand when you have that crucial stroke of genius.

Want to make extensive notes like Edison? Or highly meticulous notes like Gates? Or perhaps just doodle without a care like Picasso? Start with the right equipment and put pen to paper with our stylish refillable Post-it® Note holders. NoteShel is the perfect note writing solution at work, at home, for studying, and on the go. For more information visit www.noteshel.com.