Fifty Ways to Take Notes
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- Image by Austin Kleon via Flickr
I spent a lot of time poking around at various options for on-line note taking. I was looking for something that would allow me to quickly clip web content and dump it into a folder/category structure for later retrieval.
As it has evolved its features, Evernote is the tool best suited to my workstyle. With web-based, desktop-client and iPhone versions, Evernote makes it easy to clip and retrieve notes anywhere.
If Evernote is not to your style, here is a list of Fifty Ways to Take Notes, compiled by Brian Benzinger.
Quick Public Pages
Using a quick public page service, as I call it, is my favorite method of saving notes on the go. Some are simply a text field on a page that you fill and in click save, others allow you to record notes to a service directly through Instant Messaging with AIM, and some are full planners for creating well outlined documents.
- ShortText - Fill in your text, click save, and you’ve got yourself a permanent url to a text note. Includes private pages as well.
- YourDraft - Create and share content using a rich text editor (WYSIWYG) instantly without registration.
- Cl1p.net - The Internet Clipboard. Copy and paste between computers.
- Sabifoo - (Personal favorite) Simply use an Instant Message client (ie: AIM), message “sabifoo”, and your message is recorded online to a permanent link and RSS feed.
- Deusto - A new service for the creation of small web pages (digital books) in a simple and fast manner.
- Backpack - Organize to do lists, notes, images, photos and share.
- BareWiki - Build your own website and easily allow others to edit it.
- Infogami - Build good-looking, easily-editable web sites.
- Zoho Planner - An online organizer to Plan & Organize yourself.
- Change To Link - Easily create a page of information to bookmark or share with friends.
- PasteHere - Make pastes from screenshots of your desktop, code from your clipboard, or any other image/text. Pages last for 15 days unregistered user / 30 days registered user.
Basic Note Taking
Quick public pages aren’t really made for note-taking, although they work really well for it. Here are a few services and applications that are meant for note taking.
- Pianist - Simple memo manager helping you save your ideas.
- JotCloud - Jot down notes in a cloud of sticky notes online.
- Web Note - Quickly takes notes with an online post-it like interface.
- Performancing Firefox - Meant for blogging, although it has a section for saving notes and drafts that works rather well.
- Forty Internet Notebook - (Note: Service sadly may not be live much longer) Simple and categorized place for you to keep notes saved hierarchically.
- Backpack - Organize to do lists, notes, images, photos and share.
- JotSpot Live - JotSpot Live allows you, your colleagues or clients to take notes together on the same web page at the same time.
- TaskToy - More for to-do lists, but also features searchable notes and memos.
- Zoho Planner - An online organizer to Plan & Organize yourself.
- Campfire - Although meant for chatting, Campfire also works great for taking notes! Read this How-To.
- SyncNotes - “Your notes. Anywhere. Anyhow.”
- Yahoo! Notepad - Yahoo! Notepad is very simple, especially when using this handyNotepad Bookmarklet.
- Google Desktop Scratch Pad - Although Scratch Pad requires the Google Desktop software, I find myself using this little plugin all the time. Just type and it saves automatically.
Development
I’m a programmer and when I’ve got an idea on my mind for a script or code snippet, I want to get it down ASAP. I find that collaborative programming services, like Pastebin, or just a service that lets you save a script and share works perfectly. These are like quick public pages, but for programmers.
- Pastebin - Collaborate on debugging code snippets and receive permanent links to code snippets.
- TNX - “Simple web service for temporary text storage. A unique URL is generated, that can be easily pasted in a message, but is hard to guess.”
- TextSnippets - Public source code repository in that you can tag and categorize code. You may also set snippets as private.
- PasteHere - Make pastes from screenshots of your desktop, code from your clipboard, or any other image/text. Pages last for 15 days unregistered user / 30 days registered user.
- Nopaste - Pastebin with Syntax Highlighting for PHP Programming.
Online Documents
I found that there are times that simple text notes just don’t always fit my needs. There may be a note or part of a document that I need to save with text formatting, colors, and headings, but most note-taking services are text-only. In time, I started using services like Writeboard more and more because I can just down notes with it during a conference adding headings and lists making reading my notes a lot more organized. Makes sense, so I decided to make a list of a few.
- Writeboard - (I find I use this often because of Basecamp integration for work) Collaborative writing software online. Write, share, revise, compare. You can share by email invitation only.
- Writely - Writely allows you to edit documents online with whomever you choose, and then publish and blog them online.
- Rallypoint - (I use this for project notes often) Rallypoint combines the powerful features of your favorite desktop word processor with the collaborative abilities of a secure hosted wiki, giving you the best of both worlds.
- Zoho Writer - Online tool to create a document, edit in your way, and share with anyone.
- WideWord - Write and share documents easily, quickly and privately!
- YourDraft - Create and share content instantly without registration. The WYSIWYG editor allows fast and flexible drafting.
- gOffice Word Processing - gOffice has a nice Word Processor that I’ve only used once before, but worked well then.
Voice Recording
Don’t think your stuck with typing all your notes on a computer when it comes to note taking. Sometimes it’s just simpler to speak something out loud rather then writing and although the following services aren’t meant for taking notes specifically, they seem to work quite well. Sure, they are for emailing and podcasting, but that’s not stopping me!
- Evoca - Evoca is excellent for recording podcasts, but it also seems to work for notes as well because when you record, it simply saves it to a list in that you can listen to at any time. They are private until published.
- Odeo - For podcasting as well, but as does Evoca, Odeo’s podcast recorder also works well and saves your recordings as podcasts which you can easily listen to at any time. They are also private until published.
- Springdoo - Springdoo allows you to send voice email, as does Slawesome. When you make a recording with Springdoo, it will allow you to preview the recording and send the address to others. Simple bookmark the address or send it to yourself.
- Slawesome - Meant for emailing voice recordings, but I simply email myself and mark it in my email client as an important note in my memo folder. (Update: Voice recording does not appear to be working as of now, although the emails still send along with your note. It will save, but won’t play it seems.)
Start Pages
What better place to write notes then a start page that opens every time you open your web browser? As I mentioned the other day, I now have Netvibes as my homepage for my browser and I found that I use the Webnote module quite often. Most start pages include note functionality, but I’ll list a few favorites with note modules.
- Netvibes - My start page of choice which has a simple Webnote module with auto-saving and multi-color selection.
- PageFlakes - Personalized start page with notes and many “flakes” bringing the web to your fingertips.
- Protopage - A very neat start page allowing for notes and drag and drop containers for just about anything. Also allows for making multiple pages and setting pages public.
- Fold - Allows for adding of multiple Notepad Containers which you can drag and drop any where in your Fold Start Page.
- Google Personalized - Google’s Personalized start page works great for notes when using the Google Notes Module that saves your notes automatically.
Online Databases
Online database services can also be used for managing notes. I’ve made a system in Dabble DB and Zoho Creator for notes which I have made to my liking because I choose what is recorded. Any of the following will allow you to create your own database application for recording your notes.
- Dabble DB - (Private Beta) Dabble DB is the most powerful service of the bunch with large customization options and application flexibility. Can’t wait for it to go public so everyone can experience it’s power.
- TracksLife - “Your Friendly, Personal, Online Spread-abase.” Very simple system that works very well. Also allows for public tracks and rss feeds.
- Zoho Creator - Free online service to create and share web applications with just a few mouse clicks. Very customizable.
- FlexLists - Create your own online sharable lists with this database like service allowing for custom fields and values.
- Lazybase - Lazybase allows anyone to design, create and share a database of whatever they like.
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Top 20 Ways to Tell if You’re Canadian
Today is Canada Day. Here are the principle ways to determine if you are a Canadian.
- You understand the phrase “Could you pass me a serviette, I just dropped my poutine on the chesterfield.”
- You eat chocolate bars, not candy bars.
- You drink Pop, not Soda.
- You know that a Mickey and 2-4’s mean, “party at the camp, eh!”
- You don’t care about the fuss with Cuba. It’s a cheap place to go for your holidays, with good cigars and no Americans.
- You know that a pike is a type of fish, not part of a highway.
- You have Canadian Tire money in your kitchen drawers.
- You know that Casey and Finnegan were not part of a Celtic musical group.
- You brag to Americans that: Shania Twain, Jim Carrey, Celine Dion, Michael J. Fox, John Candy, William Shatner, Tom Green, Matthew Perry, Mike Myers, Neve Campbell and Pamela Anderson are all Canadians.
- You design your Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
- You know that the last letter of the English alphabet is pronounced “Zed”.
- Your local newspaper covers national news on 2 pages, but requires 6 pages for hockey.
- You know that when it’s 25 degrees outside, it’s a warm day.
- You know how to pronounce and spell “Saskatchewan”.
- You perk up when you hear the theme song from ‘Hockey Night in Canada’. (Alas, no longer. ;-( )
- “Eh?” is a very important part of your vocabulary, and is more polite than, “Huh?”
- Your Beer Case handles Are Big Enough To Fit Your Mitts
- You know that we don’t all live in igloos and ride polar bears to work.
- Every murder is reported.
- You froze your tongue to something metal and survived to tell about it.
What Best Defines Canada?
- Image via Wikipedia
Today is Canada Day. This marks the joining of the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec) on July 1, 1867.
So, what does it mean to be a Canadian? At least, from the perspective of Canadians.
Picture this: Pierre Trudeau standing with his back to Niagara Falls, clutching a red maple leaf in his hand, on Canada Day. Can you imagine a more Canadian scene? Only if the robotic space Canadarm somehow made it into the scene, according to a 2008 poll.
The Ipsos-Reid survey, on behalf of the Dominion Institute and the federal Department of Citizenship and Immigration, asked Canadians what best defines their country.
After tallying the results, Trudeau was revealed as the person who most defines Canada. Niagara Falls was the defining place, Canada Day the defining event, Canadarm the defining accomplishment and the maple leaf was the defining symbol.
The top-ten results in each of the five categories are…
People:
- Pierre Trudeau
- Wayne Gretzky
- Terry Fox
- Céline Dion
- John A. Macdonald
- David Suzuki
- Tommy Douglas
- Stephen Harper
- Lester Pearson
- Maurice Richard
Places:
- Niagara Falls
- The Rockies
- Parliament Hill
- Ottawa
- CN Tower
- Quebec City/Old Quebec City
- Toronto
- Montreal
- Province of Quebec
- Vancouver
Events:
- Canada Day
- Confederation
- First and Second World Wars
- Calgary Stampede
- Vimy Ridge
- Plains of Abraham
- Grey Cup
- Olympics
- Expo 67
- Quebec Winter Carnival
Accomplishments:
- Canadarm
- Peacekeeping
- Universal health care
- Fredrick Banting - Insulin
- Alexander Graham Bell - Telephone
- Diversity, Multiculturalism
- Canadian Constitution, Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Canadian national railway/railroad
- Freedom
- Avro Arrow project
Symbols:
- Maple leaf
- Hockey
- Canadian flag
- Beaver
- RCMP, Mounties
- Stanley Cup
- Wilderness (includes scenery)
- Loonie
- Maple syrup
- Moose, caribou
How about non-Canadians, do any of the above conjure up images of Canada or is it something else?
Trudeau, Niagara Falls among top Canadian icons, poll finds.
Quotes: The 3 E’s of Personal Achievement
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Most of us work towards some type of personal achievement. We all have a desire to improve our lives in some way. Despite the desire we’re not always sure what steps are needed to improve our personal achievement. Here are three areas where we can invest effort that will bring positive results:
Enthusiasm
- “There is a direct relationship between joy and effort. The joy of success is in ratio to the amount of effort expended to achieve it.” —Denis Waitley
- “I can’t imagine a person becoming a success who doesn’t give this game of life everything he’s got.” —Walter Cronkite
- “In things pertaining to enthusiasm, no man is sane who does not know how to be insane on proper occasions.” —Doug Firebaugh
- “There is real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.” —Norman Vincent Peale
Excellence
- “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” —Eddie Robinson
- “Striving for perfection is the greatest stopper there is… It’s your excuse to yourself for not doing anything. Instead, strive for excellence, doing you best.” —Sir Laurence Olivier
- “The next time a customer in your store needs to know where something is — pick yourself up and show them. Walk them there — WOW them, sell them what they want, then sell them something extra. Rule — Show, don’t tell.” —Jeffrey Gitomer
- “Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.” — Pat Riley
Expectation
- “Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on our own expectations for ourselves. What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon.” —Denis Waitley
- “The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.” —Theodore Rubin
- “The Truest help we can render an afflicted man is not to take his burden from him, but to call out his best energy, that he may be able to bear the burden.” —Phillips Brooks
- “You will never be happier than you expect. To change your happiness, change your expectation.” —Bette Davis
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Tips for leaving a good out-of-office message
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We’re heading into vacation season in this part of the world. It’s time to get away from the office, kick back and relax. However, if you spend your well-deserved break worrying about your work load on return to the office, it’s going to affect your ability to relax.
A little bit of preparation before you leave will ensure less to worry about on return. A good out-of-office message is a must. A well-prepared message can go a long way to decrease the backlog of messages waiting for you when you get back to work.
A good out of office message has three parts:
Dates of your absence. Let the contact know when you are out of the office. It helps [...] Continue Reading…
Steven Covey’s 7 Habits - The Condensed Version
Cover of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The Steven Covey classic, “The 7 Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” has been required reading for personal and professional development for some years now. If you’ve not yet read it and want a taste or you’re looking for a quick recap, Michael Gray takes 300 plus pages and condenses it to a few dozen paragraphs.
From Dependence to Interdependence
Personality vs. Character Ethics
Proactive, Personal Vision
Beginning with the End in Mind
Personal Management
Paradigms of Interdependence
Think Win-Win
Seek to Understand, Then Be Understood
Principles of Creative Cooperation
Principles of Balanced Self-Renewal
Conclusion
Seven Habits Condensed Summaries
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4 Steps for Setting Successful Goals
Image by Laurel Fan via Flickr
Do you know anyone who is successful? Have you spent time talking with them about their success? Chances are, they credit setting goals as a major step in their success, and continues to be important as they look for new ways to challenge themselves.
Surprisingly, many people drift through life with no goals or only vague dreams, hopes and wishes. No wonder we achieve less than we could. Here are four simple steps to keep in mind when setting goals:
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How to Give a Speech So You Won’t be Asked to Speak Again
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Audiences place more value information that requires effort to absorb. Make them work to understand what you are talking about and why it’s important.
Don’t waste time planning and organizing your speech. Assume your speech will seem fresh and spontaneous, even if it wanders, includes irrelevant material and doesn’t have a conclusion.
If that approach makes you nervous, write out your speech and read it verbatim. This works particularly well if you have a PowerPoint presentation with the full text you are reading.
Speaking of presentations: the points of your slides shouldn’t be too obvious. Try and get as much text as possible on each slide. Include at least one ‘I know you can’t read this, but…’ slide.
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10 Point Self-management checklist
Set clearly defined goals. Make them specific, measurable, acceptable, realistic, and
Record your hit rate. Track your successes and failures.
Make a public commitment. It’s more difficult to back ut of a personal goal when you have asked others to keep you accountable.
Meet regularly with your accountibility partner. Don’t just ask someone to keep you accountable; meet with them regularly to review progress.
Set personal penalties for failure. Give small rewards to your accountability partmer as penalties for your missing a target or failing on a behaviour.
Think small. Don’t think about losing 50 pounds, think about losing one pound and repeat 50 times.
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Fill your day with joy
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We spend a lot of time in the pursuit of happiness. Happiness is a great thing, but can be subjective, based on circumstances. Joy brings a deeper sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Joy is foundational; a sense that all will work out, even when the immediate circumstances aren’t going the way we would like.
Richard Wagner said, “Joy is not in things; it is in us.” We chase happiness, but we build joy. There are many ways to develop a joy-full attitude; here a three simple daily activities anyone can try:
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