Here is the notebook that I think Sam Altman uses, and I have been using. TWONE has a bunch of great notebooks. It’s got great paper too, even for fountain pens. TWONE kraft spiral bound notebook: amzn.to/3AfcXBp
I took notes with pocket spiral notebooks for decades. Primarily because they were cheap, portable, fit in my shirt pocket and easy to search. I retired a year ago and kept my most important notebooks until recently. It was fun to review my career flipping through them.
@@markring40 I love that. I’ve often wondered and been a little bit concerned about how much history will be lost when the “modern generations” pass and our subscriptions to email accounts, photo apps, and other data storage stop renewing. Poof! In an instant decades disappear as these repositories are purged for non-payment.
I use a medium sized spiral notebook with any of a few favorite pens and mechanical pencils. At the end of the week I scan every page of the notebook with the camera of my smartphone. From there I upload those digital pages onto my laptop project oriented computer directory structure.
I’ve been using the bullet space pen for decades , it’s great because you can always have it in your pants pocket and it will never leak nor put holes in your pocket.
Would it be just as efficient to use 3x5 index cards that can be carried in your Lochby? Maybe perfect bind a top or side edge of a stack of index cards with some glue. Captured autonomous note cards can then be torn from the stack like a notepad and indexed.
Great idea. I do use index cards, like Ryan Holiday does, in planning out my books. I talk about this briefly in another video. But, this is method is so handy.
I use a top bound spiral 3x5 notebook all the time for todo lists, etc., because it weighs nothing and easily fits in any pocket. And you can use both sides of the sheet because the top bound spiral doesn't get in the way of writing. But for longer but also portable notes there is the top spiral bound 4x8 inch 70 sheet Portage Reporter's Notebook, which has a stiff back for holding in one hand, and fits in a back jeans pocket. Hands free carry, just not in a shirt pocket like the smaller one. I use them bare, because any fancy covers just get in the way. They are big enough for brainstorming as well. Of course for that a big spiral notebook gives you twice the room to scribble , describe, and surround a project. But they are not what I call portable. The Reporter's Notebook is a good compromise for any portable note-taking need, whether tear-off reminders or extended notes. And they are only a couple of bucks apiece. Last time I got a dozen for 20 bucks.
I love the Portage reporter’s notebook. I used to use those for years for quick notes and to do’s at my desk. Great suggestion. I have to pick up some and use them again.
@@billricestrategy Office Depot makes one almost identical under their brand. One thing I like about both is that they are Gregg ruled. I can use college ruled, but it feels cramped. If you are into leather, which I am not, Portage also sells a nice cover, which I bought early on but never really used. Over time I just came to feel fancy covers on any notebooks take away utility because they are fiddly, distracting, and are apt to weigh too much. Not to mention the cost. O, and if you don't want the standard large font NEWS or POLICE on the front cover, Portage also sells them with blank white covers.
@@billricestrategy Notebooks are utility items, made to be used up. What makes them valuable is what is in them, not on them. An exception might be if you regularly work in the rain, and need some kind of a waterproof cover to protect the paper. BTW, Office Depot and Portage make good Reporter's Notebooks. Ampad not so much. The one I looked at didn't have a very stiff back, and cost more to boot.
Nice! This has become my daily driver. Tearing out pages and processing them into something--article, video script, spark file, work done, or Notion database--was the magical change. No more just filling up notebooks. Spirals are much easier to rip out pages and you have the bonus of a built-in pen loop!
I’ve been doing this and not even realizing it was a thing. I have been using an A5 graph notepad while at home or in the office to do this but I think I will try the pocket notebook because it is so much more portable than the A5 I have been using. I started looking for notebooks with ring binding in my stash but only found two reporter style notebooks. I don’t really like ring binding but if this works out, I can overlook that. I have the Lochby journal cover that you have and the two notebooks I have fit perfectly in it. The first one is a Kleid Kraft Work Memo in A7 and the second is a Maruman Mnemosyne 192 notepad that is the same width as the Kleid notebook but is a bit taller. I like these notebook because the paper is fountain pen friendly. So if you want to use your Lochby journal, then maybe pick up one or both of these notebooks. They will even fit into the Lochby Quattro with two full size pens. I am sure other companies make the A7-ish size, like Rhodia (also fountain pen friendly and they usually have a higher page count), so maybe find the one that you like and works for you. Thanks for making this video, this might be what helps me elevate my note taking and idea making skills to the next level.
I have really been leveraging the tear-out, sort, and capture workflow. This is much more effective than leaving it in an analog system. Even with indexing and careful curation, it is not as effective a retrieval system as processing all of these notes into something like Notion. I'm working on a video to document that workflow soon.
I keep several notebooks handy, but none in my pockets. I'm not going to stick a paper notebook in my pocket. My goal is to reduce what I carry on my person to the absolute minimum. (1) Rhodia A5-sized (flips open vertically). It has perforated pages. I figure out what to do with the notes, tear the page out and toss it. (2) Same thing, but Rhodia's large sized (A4? Not sure.) just because sometimes I like a large medium. I write a bunch. I transcribe what I need. Tear out and toss. (3) William Hannah leatherbound ring-based notebook: journaling. That's it (4) Larger-sized glue-bound notebook for creative writing. I fill these with stories and poetry. Eventually they are tossed out once everything lands in a computer. (5) I have a Supernote coming. That will be an experiment to replace number 4 and maybe number 3. We'll see. (6) My phone: Joplin and sometimes Google Keep. THAT'S all I carry in my pocket. I do carry a pen everywhere I go: Parker Jotter. Best pen on the planet, hands down. You can make it gel, ballpoint, or rollerball. Up to you. My 2nd brain and writing platform on the computer: Joplin. I have tried everything fairly extensively and Joplin is the only one that really services my needs.
Can you give us a list of pens you have tried that fit inside the spiral? Particularly Sam mentioned he has the Uniball 0.5 micro but there are many versions with that spec so I cannot tell which model he actually uses.
Here are my favorites that fit in the spiral pocket notebook: MUJI Gel 0.5 mm: amzn.to/3Z209GQ (These are solid, and I buy them in bulk.) Uniball Gel Pen 0.38 mm UniOne: amzn.to/40XKWsN (This is another regular in my rotation) Parker Jotter XL Ballpoint: amzn.to/3YRRmXS (I love the aesthetic of this matte blackout look) Sharpie Rollerball Pen: amzn.to/3UXaVg3 (For Sharpie lovers) Sharpie Felt Tip: amzn.to/4ggPLlF (I love these) Hopefully, this is helpful.
I thought I would contact 3M R&D to invent some hard plastic-like material that functions like a computerized sheet (imagine that it is a flat tablet looks like a acrylic sheet) but can be kept inside a cloth pocket (extra flat). The writing on the surface can be erased after you send the writing to a cloud. I thought that 12+ years ago. Now we are in the era of nano productions, right?
Great video Bill! Definitely interesting to hear how Sam takes notes, and it doesn't surprise me he carries a pocket notebook. Also was great seeing your index card/notes organized into the various topics. Thanks for sharing!
How different it would be if you would have the Supernote A6X2 E Ink tablet, which is also pretty small, which replaces all those lots of papers and can hold all of them at once?
@@jacksonier I’ve never tried that. I’ve heard the big drawback to e-ink is the latency. I see a lot of folks using the Remarkable tablet (or at least their marketing is really good). Is the Supernote what you use?
Napoleon hill, a great author indeed, exceptional wisdom you can observe in his writings. If we only learn from the perfect then we learn nothing, as thee perfect never exists! I will try the notes, I was looking for something like that, thanks.
I actually use the Mnemosyne A7 for my tote-do list: amzn.to/4hsU7Hv. I mention this in my 3 notebook system video here: th-cam.com/video/sk8gJDO23Ns/w-d-xo.htmlsi=hG7yJZjYJqIub9GY. Sometimes , because I have this notebook in hand, I do scribble down my to-do list, but then I immediately rip it out and post it on my desk. I only use a to-do list for one day though. I discard each day and prep a new one for the next day. (Probably another good video to do)
Lochby works for me. Pages rip out easily. Holds stuff like a tracker so I can locate when misplaced. Great at holding pens. Water resistant. And it fits in my back pocket.
@@pavoutsinas I love the Lochby pocket journal too, but the Lochby and Field Notes notebooks don’t feel like I can (should) rip out the pages. I do, however, love the fact that the Lochby pocket journal can be stuffed with other stuff and zipped up for safekeeping.
Apologies, I didn't hear Sam Altman describe what he does with with his torn-out pages, which I think is key. I did hear you describe what you do with your torn-out pages.
@@michaelmarcal2896 He does talk about typing them out. It seems that he is using some digital means of further refining these notes for larger projects.
@@billricestrategyno he doesn’t. He just throw them away. He tore those notes so he can lay them all on table and work on them. He takes notes as thinking medium not as a storage medium
Very nice! I haven't seen this one. I like the sleek look of the CR01, too. I might give these a try. Here are links for anyone who wants to try them with me: OHTO GS01: amzn.to/3ZkryVU OHTO CRO1: amzn.to/3B2tSY0
That is a facet of making the capture system accessible and convenient. Subtle nuance, but if the notebook is not a pocket notebook and the pen can’t be easily stashed then you won’t have it. Starting is half the battle. The organization comes with the tearing out and processing them into a system, which mentioned for me is Notion. I’m thinking about doing a video on how I do that process. Maybe you’ll enjoy that more.
Eye opener to me such 19 min content can be done talking about stuff like using one’s note pad (and trying to fit in different size pens for 2 mins that was a highlight). I got click baited assuming that he is going to tell about some path breaking notes taking method.
@@prawintulsi It was important enough that someone who how creat billions in market capitalization and arguably change the way we work seemingly overnight to go off on a tangent about it. Here is the TL;DR I took away: 1. Make you pen and paper for capture more accessible. Why notebook size, spiral, and suitable pen to stash is important 2. Make sure your system promotes being processed into something valuable. Importance of easily tear out pages and process of using, digitizing, and discarding. No one tried to click bait you. Eye opener how people can be negative to and judge the intentions so quickly of someone they don’t know.
My understanding is that writing notes down is very important to improve the learning and thinking process but it looks quite unorganised for me. Wait a moment, I wrote it down, ehm, ehm... may on the 4th floor? ^_^
I think the secret here is to use this as the capture mechanism and then the magic is in the ripping out the individual notes, thinking through them, and organizing them into a more organized system, like Notion (for me). This was a key point for me-too many of my notes are trapped in notebooks, never to be retrieved again.
If you don't care about the "cool gear" then how about a simple pad of paper? No spirals, no extra small pieces of paper caught in the spiral binding, just one end glued. Inexpensive, many sizes etc.
@@markgreen4763 I think the portability and accessibility is the key. He does say he has spent years coming to this system. Small pads of paper without a sturdy cover could be easily damaged, I think. But, as a wise person once said, “my experience does not necessarily your truth make.”
@@billricestrategy I was reminded of David Allen's "Getting Things Done" system. He caries a pad in a sturdy cover. Personally, I use Samsung Notes for quick capture. Thank you for the video. I will watch more!
@ All great ideas. You definitely have to find your preference. The key is capturing, organizing, and using your idea to create amazing things. The mechanisms to do this and exploration is probably just the fun of the process. Thanks for commenting and jumping in with ideas. By the way, I was a fervent user of legal pads for years.
I agree. But, I stabilize the wired binding with my pen. Also, I use and tear out and process a whole one of these notebooks in about two weeks. So, not too much time to really feel this pain. I also like to beat the notebooks up a bit. I find I use the more. If I get a nice Leuchtturm, hard bound I don’t open and use it for “any old thing.” Everyone definitely has to find their best fit. That’s the fun of it, I think.
I compile some of the notes as freely as possible, some with the precision of a clock. In its smallest pocket, there is an A7 notebook that is weatherproof and resistant to ink pens. There are scattered comments if it is not possible to write in an A5 folder. I have in the backpack (EDC) one folder: 1) A5 leather folder with an A5 size annual calendar (pre-printed). 2) Self-printed note pages (Cornel principle) adapted to your daily needs. Each day consists of its own page exactly like the clock. 3) For free narration (BUJO) and ideation, Cornel pages in A5 size. Pages with folder perforation, so they are archived monthly in an A4 folder. Most of the notes are unnecessary afterwards, so I don't carry useless papers with me. Bujo pages are composed continuously according to the need and content. For archiving important and memorable things, a diary number to facilitate later checking. Examble Bil Rice Strategy 328b.20242311.0935 eka
@@erkkikarvinen1783 Lots of good stuff here. I think the A5 and A7 combo is a perfect system. Gives you mobility and capture on the run and room to think when you’re at a desk or table.
@@Sportsman134 not a horrible idea. But you still have to keep up with all those loose sheets of paper before you use them and get ready to process them.
@@billricestrategy Thank you for replying, unfortunately pens, (except space pens short) fare no better. I do prefer to be able to tear out sheets, and find while I use a Traveler with assorted inserts, a smaller notebook comes out for quick notes, work measurements, numbers or the like.
I would never give up that leather pack for Sams kak idea. Let him throw away his pages, probably not much of interest anyways 😅. Also, he probably doesn't move around much with that horrible ring thing in his pocket. Can't imagine digging a hole with that in my pocket. Just put a moleskin in that leather pack and get going. I am going to make one of those leather magafties for my belt.
Like the pen holding aspect. Next global electronic/ data failure, your gonna wish you hadn’t crumpled up and thrown away those valuable hand written notes though 😅
@@romantum Great question and probably one of the most common dissenting themes on this video. So, first I would say that just like Sam mentioned in his interview, his process came through years of working and refinement to find his perfect note-taking process. I think everyone should be on that journey because capturing and processing ideas is essential to achieving great things-on this there is no debate. So, the most important part of what I’m doing is trying to fuel you with ideas and examples to shorten your journey to the perfect system. Now, to specifically answer your question. Two of the strongest arguments for analog first are 1. avoiding the inherent distraction in the smartphone, and 2. there is something interesting (at least in my experience) about thinking with pen and paper. Finally, I would conclude with a quote from one of the most creative people of our time, Rick Rubin: “My experience, does not make your truth.” Explore.
Surely not ideal for me. Everybody is unique. I am more visual so not possible to take any notes with such a simple notebook and simple pen. He is i guess a KISS type.
@@erdoganaydin176 so true. That’s why I like surveying and presenting different techniques. I will say, as I have tried this approach though it has encouraged me to process my notes more intentionally into Notion as I look at my pocket notebook and say to myself, “it still has too many unripped out pages in it.”
Yikes! The guy (Altman) throws his crumpled papers on the floor and leaves them for the housecleaner! I'm sure she/he/they don't appreciate that! Why not throw his trash of crumpled papers in a trash bin? The psychology around that scenario is a bit disturbing. Just saying...
I agree this is not ideal. I took the value of the process and then manage to crumple up my notes, hit the trash can, and then take them out to the garbage. 😂
It’s ironic that your avi is a picture of Diana because his statement reminded me of a story about Charles throwing paper on the floor and then ringing staff to come and pitch it in the waste bin next to his feet.
@@Tim2pointoh probably should have used clearer language. I think the utility of the Lochby over just carrying a naked notebook is being able to load it out with rulers, paper clips, notecards, pens, AND pencils. People tend to like carrying a bunch of stuff to complement their writing game. I enjoy your channel, BTW. Hope this explanation soothes my irritating ramblings.
It nearly brings tears to my eyes when a see I someone promoting and using a paper/notebook-based system. Do you know that an iPhone will fit it a shirt pocket? How do you people ever find a note that you created over a month ago? Do you know you can create notes by talking to your iPhone? Do you know you can draw something in a note on your iPhone? Yes, some people like the feel of a physical object, but the advantages of using an electronic note taking app far outweigh it.
@@jimgrant1776 tears of joy? 🥹 You might have missed the process tearing out and organizing for transitioning the important ones to Notion. Definitely different strokes for different folks.
If using your phone works best for you, then that's great! But it's more than just the feel of a physical object for some of us. I have ADHD, which means I get very, very easily distracted by anything and everything, including my own thoughts. My phone is one huge distraction in a little bitty package! If an idea hits me, I need to be able to write it down IMMEDIATELY or it's gone in a heartbeat. How it disappears that fast: Let's say I get an idea. I want to write it down, but the only thing I have on me is my phone. So I take it out of my pocket and...there's a notification on the lock screen. It doesn't matter what the notification says because it's either going to remind me of something else I've forgotten OR prompt me to open the app connected to that notification, which I will do without thinking. Boom. Just like that, the idea's gone. Or let's say there's not a notification, but I unlock the phone and start to go to my notes app. But wait, what was I doing? I've already forgotten why I unlocked my phone. Or if I do remember I was going to write something down, by the time I open the notes app, I've forgotten what I was going to write down because guess what? My list of previous notes pops up, and I see a whole host of other things I've forgotten about. So instead of writing down that idea, I get lost in a sea of other ideas and notes. How a paper notebook helps me: no notifications to distract me. When an idea hits, I can grab the notebook, pull the pen out of the spiral and click it, flip directly to the first blank page by using the handy-dandy sticky tab I've stuck to it, and jot that bitch down. Yay! It didn't get lost! That's because I've set up my notebook for maximum efficiency by putting that sticky tab in place, which allows me to get to a blank page instantly. As for how to go back and find a note I created whenever ago, there are different ways. I could either write the date on the page whenever I write down the note itself. Or I could go back afterwards and transfer that note to another place, whether that's an app on my phone or my computer, another notebook or journal, a planner, a sticky note, whatever. That's not to say I've never lost a note--hell, that happens all the time! Nobody's system is 100% perfect. Things are gonna get lost. My goal in writing it down is to just reduce the likelihood of it getting lost and increase the likelihood of me remembering whatever it is I'm writing down and/or making good use of that information. Now, as for voice notes, yes, those are very cool, and I've tried incorporating that into my note-taking once in awhile. But again, I get very easily distracted, so the likelihood of me remembering what I was going to say by the time I get the app open and hit record is tiny at best. The same goes for drawing something in my phone. There's just too much interference between my brain and what I'm trying to capture when it comes to using the phone. Note-taking apps are very cool, and in fact, I have several I like to use. But when it comes to getting those ideas down in the first place, I have a much better chance of doing it with a simple notebook and pen first than I do by starting with the app itself. Sorry for the long, drawn-out comment. I tend to hyperfixate on TH-cam comments! lol But I hope this gives you a different perspective on the whole paper vs. digital notes thing. Bottom line, what works for one person won't work for everyone because we're all different. And like I said, if digital works better for you, that's great, keep doing that! What matters the most is working with your brain, not against it. Have a great day/evening wherever you are!
Here is the notebook that I think Sam Altman uses, and I have been using. TWONE has a bunch of great notebooks. It’s got great paper too, even for fountain pens.
TWONE kraft spiral bound notebook: amzn.to/3AfcXBp
I took notes with pocket spiral notebooks for decades. Primarily because they were cheap, portable, fit in my shirt pocket and easy to search. I retired a year ago and kept my most important notebooks until recently. It was fun to review my career flipping through them.
@@markring40 I love that. I’ve often wondered and been a little bit concerned about how much history will be lost when the “modern generations” pass and our subscriptions to email accounts, photo apps, and other data storage stop renewing. Poof! In an instant decades disappear as these repositories are purged for non-payment.
I use a medium sized spiral notebook with any of a few favorite pens and mechanical pencils. At the end of the week I scan every page of the notebook with the camera of my smartphone. From there I upload those digital pages onto my laptop project oriented computer directory structure.
Now that OCR is so good, this is brilliant. Thanks for sharing!
Which ocr u would recommend @@billricestrategy
Wow! SamAltman knows his pens. Good choices. ❤
I’ve been using the bullet space pen for decades , it’s great because you can always have it in your pants pocket and it will never leak nor put holes in your pocket.
They are great pens. I just tend to lose them. This is why I like locking a pen into the spiral.
Leaders are readers and note-takers.
using this approach from the ages. It's simple, straight-forward and handy to use.
For sure. Simple is often the most profound.
I just wanna say I am five seconds in and I am in love with your set the colors visuals. OK now back to the rest of the video.
@@MagnumEDU The benefit of having a daughter that is an Art Education major. It is my personal art gallery of her art 😍 Thank you for noticing!
Would it be just as efficient to use 3x5 index cards that can be carried in your Lochby? Maybe perfect bind a top or side edge of a stack of index cards with some glue. Captured autonomous note cards can then be torn from the stack like a notepad and indexed.
Great idea. I do use index cards, like Ryan Holiday does, in planning out my books. I talk about this briefly in another video. But, this is method is so handy.
Can you detail how you get the notes into Notion?
Thanks for this review & help!
@@samuelkatz2463 watch for it. That process is an upcoming video.
I use a top bound spiral 3x5 notebook all the time for todo lists, etc., because it weighs nothing and easily fits in any pocket. And you can use both sides of the sheet because the top bound spiral doesn't get in the way of writing. But for longer but also portable notes there is the top spiral bound 4x8 inch 70 sheet Portage Reporter's Notebook, which has a stiff back for holding in one hand, and fits in a back jeans pocket. Hands free carry, just not in a shirt pocket like the smaller one. I use them bare, because any fancy covers just get in the way. They are big enough for brainstorming as well. Of course for that a big spiral notebook gives you twice the room to scribble , describe, and surround a project. But they are not what I call portable. The Reporter's Notebook is a good compromise for any portable note-taking need, whether tear-off reminders or extended notes. And they are only a couple of bucks apiece. Last time I got a dozen for 20 bucks.
I love the Portage reporter’s notebook. I used to use those for years for quick notes and to do’s at my desk. Great suggestion. I have to pick up some and use them again.
@@billricestrategy Office Depot makes one almost identical under their brand. One thing I like about both is that they are Gregg ruled. I can use college ruled, but it feels cramped. If you are into leather, which I am not, Portage also sells a nice cover, which I bought early on but never really used. Over time I just came to feel fancy covers on any notebooks take away utility because they are fiddly, distracting, and are apt to weigh too much. Not to mention the cost. O, and if you don't want the standard large font NEWS or POLICE on the front cover, Portage also sells them with blank white covers.
@ I agree, I’m starting to move away from fancy covers. I like my notebooks a little beat up.
@@billricestrategy Notebooks are utility items, made to be used up. What makes them valuable is what is in them, not on them. An exception might be if you regularly work in the rain, and need some kind of a waterproof cover to protect the paper. BTW, Office Depot and Portage make good Reporter's Notebooks. Ampad not so much. The one I looked at didn't have a very stiff back, and cost more to boot.
Just rewatching this again - it's an excellent video Bill that's got me buying more spiral notebooks that I love :) Many thanks!
Nice! This has become my daily driver. Tearing out pages and processing them into something--article, video script, spark file, work done, or Notion database--was the magical change. No more just filling up notebooks. Spirals are much easier to rip out pages and you have the bonus of a built-in pen loop!
What if you want to remember something related to an URL?
@@AlessandroEvangelista12 if I’m in my browser and online, I’ll stay digital and use the Notion extension to clip it straight into my Notes DB.
I’ve been doing this and not even realizing it was a thing. I have been using an A5 graph notepad while at home or in the office to do this but I think I will try the pocket notebook because it is so much more portable than the A5 I have been using. I started looking for notebooks with ring binding in my stash but only found two reporter style notebooks. I don’t really like ring binding but if this works out, I can overlook that. I have the Lochby journal cover that you have and the two notebooks I have fit perfectly in it. The first one is a Kleid Kraft Work Memo in A7 and the second is a Maruman Mnemosyne 192 notepad that is the same width as the Kleid notebook but is a bit taller. I like these notebook because the paper is fountain pen friendly. So if you want to use your Lochby journal, then maybe pick up one or both of these notebooks. They will even fit into the Lochby Quattro with two full size pens. I am sure other companies make the A7-ish size, like Rhodia (also fountain pen friendly and they usually have a higher page count), so maybe find the one that you like and works for you. Thanks for making this video, this might be what helps me elevate my note taking and idea making skills to the next level.
I have really been leveraging the tear-out, sort, and capture workflow. This is much more effective than leaving it in an analog system. Even with indexing and careful curation, it is not as effective a retrieval system as processing all of these notes into something like Notion. I'm working on a video to document that workflow soon.
I keep several notebooks handy, but none in my pockets. I'm not going to stick a paper notebook in my pocket. My goal is to reduce what I carry on my person to the absolute minimum.
(1) Rhodia A5-sized (flips open vertically). It has perforated pages. I figure out what to do with the notes, tear the page out and toss it.
(2) Same thing, but Rhodia's large sized (A4? Not sure.) just because sometimes I like a large medium. I write a bunch. I transcribe what I need. Tear out and toss.
(3) William Hannah leatherbound ring-based notebook: journaling. That's it
(4) Larger-sized glue-bound notebook for creative writing. I fill these with stories and poetry. Eventually they are tossed out once everything lands in a computer.
(5) I have a Supernote coming. That will be an experiment to replace number 4 and maybe number 3. We'll see.
(6) My phone: Joplin and sometimes Google Keep. THAT'S all I carry in my pocket.
I do carry a pen everywhere I go: Parker Jotter. Best pen on the planet, hands down. You can make it gel, ballpoint, or rollerball. Up to you.
My 2nd brain and writing platform on the computer: Joplin. I have tried everything fairly extensively and Joplin is the only one that really services my needs.
Can you give us a list of pens you have tried that fit inside the spiral? Particularly Sam mentioned he has the Uniball 0.5 micro but there are many versions with that spec so I cannot tell which model he actually uses.
Here are my favorites that fit in the spiral pocket notebook:
MUJI Gel 0.5 mm: amzn.to/3Z209GQ (These are solid, and I buy them in bulk.)
Uniball Gel Pen 0.38 mm UniOne: amzn.to/40XKWsN (This is another regular in my rotation)
Parker Jotter XL Ballpoint: amzn.to/3YRRmXS (I love the aesthetic of this matte blackout look)
Sharpie Rollerball Pen: amzn.to/3UXaVg3 (For Sharpie lovers)
Sharpie Felt Tip: amzn.to/4ggPLlF (I love these)
Hopefully, this is helpful.
I thought I would contact 3M R&D to invent some hard plastic-like material that functions like a computerized sheet (imagine that it is a flat tablet looks like a acrylic sheet) but can be kept inside a cloth pocket (extra flat). The writing on the surface can be erased after you send the writing to a cloud. I thought that 12+ years ago. Now we are in the era of nano productions, right?
Very clever. Ahead of your time.
Great video Bill! Definitely interesting to hear how Sam takes notes, and it doesn't surprise me he carries a pocket notebook. Also was great seeing your index card/notes organized into the various topics. Thanks for sharing!
@@ericpfohl high praise. I’m working on a few others like this. I love your work and watching your journey.
How different it would be if you would have the Supernote A6X2 E Ink tablet, which is also pretty small, which replaces all those lots of papers and can hold all of them at once?
@@jacksonier I’ve never tried that. I’ve heard the big drawback to e-ink is the latency. I see a lot of folks using the Remarkable tablet (or at least their marketing is really good). Is the Supernote what you use?
Napoleon hill, a great author indeed, exceptional wisdom you can observe in his writings. If we only learn from the perfect then we learn nothing, as thee perfect never exists! I will try the notes, I was looking for something like that, thanks.
Always be curious. Always be learning.
Can you please add the link to the spiral notebook you are using? It's missing in the video description.
Thank you.
@@patrickmosby9708 Absolutely! Sorry about the oversight. I’m dropping it in the descriptions too, but here it is: amzn.to/3AfcXBp.
Great video Bill, thank you! I purchased the notebooks from your link. 😎
I've been loving it. Since this video, I have filled and indexed two of these little notebooks.
How do you manage your “to-do list” also in your pocket note book or in another system?
I actually use the Mnemosyne A7 for my tote-do list: amzn.to/4hsU7Hv. I mention this in my 3 notebook system video here: th-cam.com/video/sk8gJDO23Ns/w-d-xo.htmlsi=hG7yJZjYJqIub9GY. Sometimes , because I have this notebook in hand, I do scribble down my to-do list, but then I immediately rip it out and post it on my desk. I only use a to-do list for one day though. I discard each day and prep a new one for the next day. (Probably another good video to do)
Do you have any note taking methods for people who never have any ideas?
@@bthome123 you do. It’s circular. Start capturing and ideas flow. Have faith.
Lochby works for me. Pages rip out easily. Holds stuff like a tracker so I can locate when misplaced. Great at holding pens. Water resistant. And it fits in my back pocket.
@@pavoutsinas I love the Lochby pocket journal too, but the Lochby and Field Notes notebooks don’t feel like I can (should) rip out the pages. I do, however, love the fact that the Lochby pocket journal can be stuffed with other stuff and zipped up for safekeeping.
Thanks for this! Subscribed!
I don’t see a link to the notebook you selected to replicate Altman’s technique. Did I miss it?
@@sookythehousecat Sorry about the oversight. I’m dropping it in the descriptions too, but here it is: amzn.to/3AfcXBp.
Apologies, I didn't hear Sam Altman describe what he does with with his torn-out pages, which I think is key. I did hear you describe what you do with your torn-out pages.
@@michaelmarcal2896 He does talk about typing them out. It seems that he is using some digital means of further refining these notes for larger projects.
@@billricestrategyno he doesn’t. He just throw them away. He tore those notes so he can lay them all on table and work on them. He takes notes as thinking medium not as a storage medium
Try an OHTO G501. A good slim pen
Very nice!
I haven't seen this one. I like the sleek look of the CR01, too. I might give these a try.
Here are links for anyone who wants to try them with me:
OHTO GS01: amzn.to/3ZkryVU
OHTO CRO1: amzn.to/3B2tSY0
I can see that this has already been mentioned, but I am writing this for the algorithm also - A link for the spiral notebook, please. ;)
@@CarnivoreChris89 Absolutely! Sorry about the oversight. I’m dropping it in the descriptions too, but here it is: amzn.to/3AfcXBp.
Question? Isnt genious note taking more about the organization, but about which pen to use and explain that again and again.
That is a facet of making the capture system accessible and convenient. Subtle nuance, but if the notebook is not a pocket notebook and the pen can’t be easily stashed then you won’t have it.
Starting is half the battle.
The organization comes with the tearing out and processing them into a system, which mentioned for me is Notion.
I’m thinking about doing a video on how I do that process.
Maybe you’ll enjoy that more.
I hate spirals. But I’m all in on getting the pages I no longer need out of the way. My solution is to tear the corner of the pages I’m done with.
Great idea. I definitely think there is value in “processing” and purging important and unimportant pages.
Really good note taking system 😮❤
Brand ?
TWONE kraft spiral bound notebook: amzn.to/3AfcXBp.
Eye opener to me such 19 min content can be done talking about stuff like using one’s note pad (and trying to fit in different size pens for 2 mins that was a highlight). I got click baited assuming that he is going to tell about some path breaking notes taking method.
@@prawintulsi It was important enough that someone who how creat billions in market capitalization and arguably change the way we work seemingly overnight to go off on a tangent about it.
Here is the TL;DR I took away:
1. Make you pen and paper for capture more accessible. Why notebook size, spiral, and suitable pen to stash is important
2. Make sure your system promotes being processed into something valuable. Importance of easily tear out pages and process of using, digitizing, and discarding.
No one tried to click bait you.
Eye opener how people can be negative to and judge the intentions so quickly of someone they don’t know.
My understanding is that writing notes down is very important to improve the learning and thinking process but it looks quite unorganised for me.
Wait a moment, I wrote it down, ehm, ehm... may on the 4th floor?
^_^
I think the secret here is to use this as the capture mechanism and then the magic is in the ripping out the individual notes, thinking through them, and organizing them into a more organized system, like Notion (for me). This was a key point for me-too many of my notes are trapped in notebooks, never to be retrieved again.
nothing stops you from organising your notes.
If you don't care about the "cool gear" then how about a simple pad of paper? No spirals, no extra small pieces of paper caught in the spiral binding, just one end glued. Inexpensive, many sizes etc.
@@markgreen4763 I think the portability and accessibility is the key. He does say he has spent years coming to this system. Small pads of paper without a sturdy cover could be easily damaged, I think. But, as a wise person once said, “my experience does not necessarily your truth make.”
@@billricestrategy I was reminded of David Allen's "Getting Things Done" system. He caries a pad in a sturdy cover. Personally, I use Samsung Notes for quick capture. Thank you for the video. I will watch more!
@ All great ideas. You definitely have to find your preference. The key is capturing, organizing, and using your idea to create amazing things. The mechanisms to do this and exploration is probably just the fun of the process. Thanks for commenting and jumping in with ideas. By the way, I was a fervent user of legal pads for years.
Sam forgot the most important thing... You have to hold the pen in you left hand 😮
Spiral pocket notebooks are versatile but not durable. The wired binding often bends out of shape. A small, hardcover notebook lasts longer.
I agree. But, I stabilize the wired binding with my pen. Also, I use and tear out and process a whole one of these notebooks in about two weeks. So, not too much time to really feel this pain. I also like to beat the notebooks up a bit. I find I use the more. If I get a nice Leuchtturm, hard bound I don’t open and use it for “any old thing.” Everyone definitely has to find their best fit. That’s the fun of it, I think.
Did you think about a note taking channel?
@@knw-seeker6836 I have. We’ll see if I go down that path in the future.
I compile some of the notes as freely as possible, some with the precision of a clock. In its smallest pocket, there is an A7 notebook that is weatherproof and resistant to ink pens. There are scattered comments if it is not possible to write in an A5 folder. I have in the backpack (EDC) one folder: 1) A5 leather folder with an A5 size annual calendar (pre-printed). 2) Self-printed note pages (Cornel principle) adapted to your daily needs. Each day consists of its own page exactly like the clock. 3) For free narration (BUJO) and ideation, Cornel pages in A5 size. Pages with folder perforation, so they are archived monthly in an A4 folder. Most of the notes are unnecessary afterwards, so I don't carry useless papers with me. Bujo pages are composed continuously according to the need and content. For archiving important and memorable things, a diary number to facilitate later checking. Examble Bil Rice Strategy 328b.20242311.0935 eka
I print my own edited note pages on paper sheets of my choice and suitable for different pens, which I replenish manually every day.
@@erkkikarvinen1783 Lots of good stuff here. I think the A5 and A7 combo is a perfect system. Gives you mobility and capture on the run and room to think when you’re at a desk or table.
Good ideas. 👍🏻. 🇧🇷
why not just use loose leaf paper then instead of ripping paper out of a spiral notebook
@@Sportsman134 not a horrible idea. But you still have to keep up with all those loose sheets of paper before you use them and get ready to process them.
@ yeah true but can store them in a notebook / folder maybe
Never met a spiral notebook where the spiral was equal to my lifestyle. They might last a day before crushed.
Keep that pen in there when it goes in the pocket and you’ll be a changed man. No looking for a pen and no crushed spirals 😂
@@billricestrategy Thank you for replying, unfortunately pens, (except space pens short) fare no better. I do prefer to be able to tear out sheets, and find while I use a Traveler with assorted inserts, a smaller notebook comes out for quick notes, work measurements, numbers or the like.
@ for sure. I should try the travelers notebooks. Thanks for watching!
I would never give up that leather pack for Sams kak idea. Let him throw away his pages, probably not much of interest anyways 😅. Also, he probably doesn't move around much with that horrible ring thing in his pocket. Can't imagine digging a hole with that in my pocket. Just put a moleskin in that leather pack and get going. I am going to make one of those leather magafties for my belt.
Heh I just learned that Sam Altman is a one-sided note ripper like me!
F a hard cover though. Soft cover for life. It’s worth the compromise.
@@bbScreams one-sided is the only way to rip and process. Game changer.
The thing that stroke me the most is that he seems unable to use a bin at his own house.
I would agree. Let's hope he was being dramatic. That is my suspicion.
Same.
Like the pen holding aspect.
Next global electronic/ data failure, your gonna wish you hadn’t crumpled up and thrown away those valuable hand written notes though 😅
His house cleaner should sell the crumpled papers in the black market.
Haha! Selling handwritten Sam Altman ideas. That definitely has street value 😂
why not use a digital tool though? everyone has a smartphone in the pocket.. why add a whole notebook ? really curious..
@@romantum Great question and probably one of the most common dissenting themes on this video. So, first I would say that just like Sam mentioned in his interview, his process came through years of working and refinement to find his perfect note-taking process. I think everyone should be on that journey because capturing and processing ideas is essential to achieving great things-on this there is no debate. So, the most important part of what I’m doing is trying to fuel you with ideas and examples to shorten your journey to the perfect system.
Now, to specifically answer your question. Two of the strongest arguments for analog first are 1. avoiding the inherent distraction in the smartphone, and 2. there is something interesting (at least in my experience) about thinking with pen and paper.
Finally, I would conclude with a quote from one of the most creative people of our time, Rick Rubin: “My experience, does not make your truth.” Explore.
@@billricestrategy good answer, thank you!
Surely not ideal for me. Everybody is unique. I am more visual so not possible to take any notes with such a simple notebook and simple pen. He is i guess a KISS type.
@@erdoganaydin176 so true. That’s why I like surveying and presenting different techniques. I will say, as I have tried this approach though it has encouraged me to process my notes more intentionally into Notion as I look at my pocket notebook and say to myself, “it still has too many unripped out pages in it.”
Yikes! The guy (Altman) throws his crumpled papers on the floor and leaves them for the housecleaner! I'm sure she/he/they don't appreciate that! Why not throw his trash of crumpled papers in a trash bin? The psychology around that scenario is a bit disturbing. Just saying...
Am pretty sure that his notes are worth some monies. Maybe the housekeeper should capitalise on this sort of minor disrespect.
I agree this is not ideal. I took the value of the process and then manage to crumple up my notes, hit the trash can, and then take them out to the garbage. 😂
It’s ironic that your avi is a picture of Diana because his statement reminded me of a story about Charles throwing paper on the floor and then ringing staff to come and pitch it in the waste bin next to his feet.
Speaks volumes
I think he was kidding. No need to take his ‘throw away’ comment so literally.
Sorry.... "writing utensils and appliances " - Pens!
@@Tim2pointoh probably should have used clearer language. I think the utility of the Lochby over just carrying a naked notebook is being able to load it out with rulers, paper clips, notecards, pens, AND pencils. People tend to like carrying a bunch of stuff to complement their writing game. I enjoy your channel, BTW. Hope this explanation soothes my irritating ramblings.
It nearly brings tears to my eyes when a see I someone promoting and using a paper/notebook-based system.
Do you know that an iPhone will fit it a shirt pocket?
How do you people ever find a note that you created over a month ago?
Do you know you can create notes by talking to your iPhone?
Do you know you can draw something in a note on your iPhone?
Yes, some people like the feel of a physical object, but the advantages of using an electronic note taking app far outweigh it.
@@jimgrant1776 tears of joy? 🥹 You might have missed the process tearing out and organizing for transitioning the important ones to Notion. Definitely different strokes for different folks.
If using your phone works best for you, then that's great! But it's more than just the feel of a physical object for some of us. I have ADHD, which means I get very, very easily distracted by anything and everything, including my own thoughts. My phone is one huge distraction in a little bitty package! If an idea hits me, I need to be able to write it down IMMEDIATELY or it's gone in a heartbeat.
How it disappears that fast: Let's say I get an idea. I want to write it down, but the only thing I have on me is my phone. So I take it out of my pocket and...there's a notification on the lock screen. It doesn't matter what the notification says because it's either going to remind me of something else I've forgotten OR prompt me to open the app connected to that notification, which I will do without thinking. Boom. Just like that, the idea's gone.
Or let's say there's not a notification, but I unlock the phone and start to go to my notes app. But wait, what was I doing? I've already forgotten why I unlocked my phone. Or if I do remember I was going to write something down, by the time I open the notes app, I've forgotten what I was going to write down because guess what? My list of previous notes pops up, and I see a whole host of other things I've forgotten about. So instead of writing down that idea, I get lost in a sea of other ideas and notes.
How a paper notebook helps me: no notifications to distract me. When an idea hits, I can grab the notebook, pull the pen out of the spiral and click it, flip directly to the first blank page by using the handy-dandy sticky tab I've stuck to it, and jot that bitch down. Yay! It didn't get lost! That's because I've set up my notebook for maximum efficiency by putting that sticky tab in place, which allows me to get to a blank page instantly.
As for how to go back and find a note I created whenever ago, there are different ways. I could either write the date on the page whenever I write down the note itself. Or I could go back afterwards and transfer that note to another place, whether that's an app on my phone or my computer, another notebook or journal, a planner, a sticky note, whatever. That's not to say I've never lost a note--hell, that happens all the time! Nobody's system is 100% perfect. Things are gonna get lost. My goal in writing it down is to just reduce the likelihood of it getting lost and increase the likelihood of me remembering whatever it is I'm writing down and/or making good use of that information.
Now, as for voice notes, yes, those are very cool, and I've tried incorporating that into my note-taking once in awhile. But again, I get very easily distracted, so the likelihood of me remembering what I was going to say by the time I get the app open and hit record is tiny at best. The same goes for drawing something in my phone. There's just too much interference between my brain and what I'm trying to capture when it comes to using the phone. Note-taking apps are very cool, and in fact, I have several I like to use. But when it comes to getting those ideas down in the first place, I have a much better chance of doing it with a simple notebook and pen first than I do by starting with the app itself.
Sorry for the long, drawn-out comment. I tend to hyperfixate on TH-cam comments! lol But I hope this gives you a different perspective on the whole paper vs. digital notes thing. Bottom line, what works for one person won't work for everyone because we're all different. And like I said, if digital works better for you, that's great, keep doing that! What matters the most is working with your brain, not against it. Have a great day/evening wherever you are!
How many of you are watching this segment on your paper notebook?
Link for 🗒️ notebook is in description