Since we are on the multi thread of brainstorming business (man I love the Café, you have no idea how much I grow from ideas and education many of you provide)

My life is run by 2 things ..
1. my schedule (its a paper day planner, and yes from a geek I know it's a contradiction, but I like paper)
2. my business journals

My detailed schedule is on my computer and tracks projects and to do lists but a quick look at my paper on gives me client dates / adress / phone # and time of event
and the paper version is EASILY portable...

what is my paper on
well right now it is just a bought day planner.. but I don't like it.. I want something custom.. SOOOOOO

http://www.diyplanner.com/

I am building one for notecards.. because most of my pre journal notes go onto note cards. (they are just easy to keep a stack by the computer)
....

but the real Brainstorm for this post..

How many of you USE a business Journal and what type of stuff goes into it?
I have 3 types and all 3 are with me all the time..
as 1 gets full I date it with a sharpie and file it.. (been doing this since seminary YEARS ago.. I actually found my 1st sermon outline digging through some old ones last week)

about once every quarter I go through old journals to see if I can reuse a idea or maybe run with a idea I couldn't use back then (and have found a few jewels)
ok so My business Journals are as follows

1. Ideas / Goals
these are just things I want to do or ideas I have
From back when I was doing card magic (pre my 1st balloon animal) I found a illusion idea I want to share.. cause someone here might actually build it and if so I want a copy if you take it to market (-=
[quote]Ambitious card Photo Coppier
effect - an closer and audience explanation of HOW the ambitious card works.. It's not really magic. it's technology.. I use a Micro Photocopier to copy your card and then just leave a few copies on top..
You then pull out a piece of plastic (clear and same size as the cards) and lay it on top of the deck.. shake it lightly and you see the lights move as if a copy was being made.. then you drop a b&w version of their card on the table (now easy to do with ghost deck) .. ohh sorry had it on B&W.. flip plastic over.. lights go.. and AGHHH paper jam and a misprint.. MAN this is embarrassing..smack deck on table.. and then produce the card.. [quote]
I wrote ALL of that 10 years AGO.. and because of my ideas journals it wasn't lost..

my 2nd journal is Marketing

This is where all marketing ideas are laid out and worked on
from new traffic strategies for Internet marketing
to a event giveaway as a loss leader campaign
I even have some ideas copied from here on the Café

and my 3rd
notes on lectures I attend

what I want to do just to kick this whole system into the NOW
is
http://www.livescribe.com/


so do any of you keep business journals.. if so what type of things do you write about..
and umm if not.. WHY?? I couldn't grow without mine...

...
if your still reading .. thanks for sitting through my mindless ramblings.. LOL

I always carry paper with me. Whenever there is a pause in my day - without having my kids crawling over me and housework to do or the constant business calls and emails - (ex - arrived early to a show or meeting and sitting outside the venue, waiting at a doctor/dentist appt., etc) the quiet is the perfect time to start brainstorming ideas and scribbling thoughts on paper.

I wouldn't call this a "journal" really but I have found nearly all of my best ideas and plans have come from this process.

In fact, many years ago before I started doing this full time ("real-job" phase of my life), I was sitting around waiting to see if I would be selected for jury duty. While in the courthouse for 2 days, I was able to scribble out what ended up being a successful and detailed plan for launching my business. Two potentially wasted days turned into among the most important.

As a parent, noise is constant. Any time there is quiet and I have an opportunity to think, I take advantage of it! I would recommend always having a notebook and a pen around.

I have the spiral 4x6 note cards, They serve me well, as as a reference. I try to have a supply of note cards with me so an idea can be written down and expanded later.

I have a beat up old leather bound tome packed with once empty pages, now covered in notes, scribbles, doodles, and random thoughts about everything. I carry it around along with a pen to all my gigs, just to jot a notion or brain fart should something aromatically pleasant arise.

It's old-school big time, totally disorganized, and a priced possession.

--Jack

One word: moleskine.

I use both the smaller ones and the larger soft-leather. Beautiful and useful.

I'm a traditional corporate guy. I have my Franklin/Covey day planner, and my iPhone with a ton of apps on it for business. When it comes to being organized, I have to rely on other people's methods, because all the ones I have come up with over the years turn into time vacuums.

Good idea for a thread, I hope some good ideas get posted...I'm always looking for ways to get more organized.

I ordered my livescribe today ...

cant wait to start using it..
now I can get more of my scribbles to make since