The Pen Is Mightier …
I’ve recently begun experimenting with various cloud-based applications and tools for product management, organization and note taking. Up until a few weeks ago, yellow sticky-notes, a legal pad, pen, and the occasional google doc were the crux of my entire project management arsenal. But, as my life has shifted to that a nomadic entrepreneur, I’ve been forced to move all processes to the cloud.
However, there is one process that I still can’t replicate through digital tools - Brainstorming.
When it comes to creative, free form idea generation, nothing can beat the old-school pen and paper method. I can’t put my finger on why, but there is something simple and natural in scribing notes, sketching graphs, and drawing circular arrows connecting otherwise disjointed thoughts into new creations that just can’t be replicated with digital tools.
I’d be curious to hear from others what tools, if any, they find better for simple idea generation and synthesis.
Also, for those interested, I’ve finally narrowed down my arsenal into the following few tools:
- Evernote - “My digital memory” for saving everything from research resources to links to design inspiration. My memory has gone digital
- The Action Method - a product by Behance, this has changed the way I organize and prioritize “to do” lists. With the ability to organize actions steps into different silos and filter by project, importance, and due date, The Action Method dictates my entire day.
- Excel/Google Spreadsheets - In my former life, I lived in spreadsheets. It’s too hard to break the habit and I’ve found nothing better for storing basic data and information.
- Pen / Legal Pad - All ideas, processes, and random thoughts always hit paper before they are translated into action steps or plans in my digital tools. I always carry a small legal pad in my MacBook case.
Love to hear responses or suggests for what others find as their ideal “arsenal” of product management tools.
