There are three important things I have learned about note-taking:
- Take notes often. Your eyes and ears offer you a constant flow of information and you cannot rely on your memory to store everything that is relevant. Jot down the names of people and organizations, even if you will only encounter them once or twice. Jot down half-baked ideas, because you might be able to go back to them sometime and turn them into something useful. Keep a calendar, and keep it until the end of the year. Take advantage of the simple power of a pen and notebook.
- Don't take notes too often. While it is important, note-taking can also be one of the most efficient wastes of time. If you are resourceful, you will find a multitude of alternatives to writing down every little important detail. Take pictures, take business cards, take brochures. Do not hesitate to ask if you can have a copy of a PowerPoint presentation, or if it can be emailed to you. Commit the most important things to memory, because writing them down may lead to taking them for granted.
- Don't be afraid to do more than take notes. Talk to people. Ask questions. Introduce yourself and offer input. This applies to any and all classes, seminars, events, projects and personal ventures. Nine out of ten times, your notes are for your own future reference. This means that nine out of ten times, you must (at least once) put down your pen and use your voice. Do not be afraid of looking or sounding stupid. Do not hesitate because no one else is speaking up. Talk to people, even if they are intimidating or abrasive. Rest assured that all the other people silently taking notes will (in their silent way) thank you.
