It’s Back-to-School and we’re doing a ten-part series on lifelong learning. We’re kicking it off with three shows on the 3 R’s – Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic.

Last time, we talked about reading. Today we’re going to get into the second R – writing.

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 Listen to George & Mary-Lynn discuss today's topic on The Bigg Success Show! Click the purple player to listen while your read: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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A note on note-taking

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One thought I had, as we were preparing for this show, is how many people don’t write. Here’s what I mean by that: it always amazes me how few people take notes at training sessions, meetings and conferences. I don’t have empirical evidence for this, but I will tell you that my best employees always took notes. My best students are prodigious note-takers.

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George, do you think they succeed because they take notes or do they have other characteristics, which may lead to a propensity for taking notes, which propel them to success?

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Good question, Mary-Lynn. I don’t really know the answer to that, but I would guess the latter of the two. It reminds me of something my Dad used to say, “A short pencil is better than a long memory!”

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The act of taking notes helps you recall it later with less effort. It helps you digest the material more fully. You learn faster which means you reach bigg success faster.

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A process with a purpose

Whereas reading involves comprehending a message, writing is about crafting a message. They’re both communication, an absolutely vital skill today.

One of the chief skills is learning how to word your message so your reader not only understands it, but it moves things forward. Writing is a process with a purpose. Keep your purpose in mind throughout the process.

The blank sheet

When we talk about writing these days, we usually think of sitting in front of our computer screen typing. There may be value in taking a trip back in time and doing it the old fashioned way.

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I often find that, when I’m planning the bigg picture and trying to set direction, it’s helpful to sit down with just a blank sheet of paper and a pen.

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You may work better on your notebook or computer. Do whatever works for you. But there is something magical about physical paper and pen that can’t be fully replicated on the computer.

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When I’m brainstorming, I think one of the benefits to pen and paper is to have all the ideas right there in front of me. When I’m using a word processor, I tend to edit a lot. When I write it down on paper, I may cross it out but it’s still there. Sometimes that helps me find a path I may not have found otherwise.

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You usually end up transferring those ideas into a document on your computer, don’t you George?

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Usually but not always. Sometimes it’s a work-in-progress for awhile. Sometimes I go back and forth. It just depends.

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Your most important audience

Our point is that sometimes the most important audience for your writing is yourself. When you transfer your thoughts onto paper, magic happens.

You may find your ideas aren’t as fully developed as you thought. At least we often do.

You will definitely discover that putting your thoughts in writing makes the intangible tangible. You can physically see it instead of just seeing it in your mind. When you can see it, you can be it! You can be a bigg success!

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We can’t thank you enough for reading our post today. Next time, we’ll talk about the third R – arithmetic – and personal finance. Please join us. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!

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