Lifestyle Mastery Boxed Set

by Scott Allan

  For example, I have a folder for blog ideas, books, and website development. There are so many ideas here as well as resources I have to access that I have multiple folders for each category.

  Whatever your ideas focus on, or the project you are working on is, this is how you should structure your folders.

  The key is to have a place where you can store your ideas that are related to similar projects, interests, and passions. I know this seems logical and very elementary but nothing can be worse than looking for something and not being able to find it. Even if you are not an organized person, this system can help you to get organized. It is not overly complex and can be managed easily if you follow the process.

  Once your idea is recorded, whether it is written down in a notebook or in an app while on the run, you then move it one more time to the folder/category where it belongs.

  Evernote Stacks: Organizing Idea with the Stacking Method

  I talked about Evernote in the last chapter and how it is a powerful system for collecting and maintaining your projects, docs, and, of course, parking your ideas. The other great feature it has is notebook stacking.

  This is a good system for keeping projects together as well as ideas and material recorded. Of course, you can use whatever software you feel comfortable with and adopt a similar method. In fact, you can do the same thing right on a PC desktop, but, at least, with an app like Evernote, your information is saved should anything happen to your computer or smartphone.

  In Evernote, it works like this:

  You can select notebooks from the side menu.

  Then, drag and drop one notebook into another. You now have a new stack containing both notebooks. Now these notebooks are likely related; they could be workout routines or ideas you have for a series of books you plan to write. You might have a contract with similar clients working together so the information is contained in the same stack.

  You can add additional notebooks by dragging them into the same stack.

  The scope of this book doesn’t cover all the functions that Evernote can do, so if you want to know more you should check out this book by S. J. Scott. He’ll show you how to maximize the Evernote tool for both personal and business use.

  Master Evernote: The Unofficial Guide to Organizing Your Life with Evernote by S. J. Scott

  The Three-Step Folder Strategy

  The three-step folder strategy is a simple system for gathering your ideas, organizing them into the right folders, and then moving your folders into an active funnel.

  This is how it works:

  Create one folder. This is called the “Three-Step Folder-Main” (or you can call it whatever you want). But this folder’s function is to place your three folders for your ideas.

  Make three folders inside the main folder. You can do this as a stack in Evernote or create three folders in Google Drive or on your desktop. However, just note that storing information on your desktop only is risky without backup. Make sure it is stored in the cloud at least.

  Now, here is a breakdown of the folders (or notebooks) and how to use them.

  If you use Evernote, you’ll create a main folder (called a notebook in Evernote) and call it “Three-step folders.” Then, create three more notebooks and place them inside the “Three-step folders notebook.” You’ll now have a stack.

  Folder #1 (Central ideas folder): This is your main folder for gathering ideas. I call it the “Central ideas folder.” You can capture all your ideas here without any organization. Just throw your ideas in here randomly.

  Inside the folder/notebook, you’ll create a new note and then start to write your ideas here. You can have as many notes as you want. I have a note for each idea funnel. For example, I’ll have a note for exercise, hobbies, and book writing. Again, these are just for general ideas.

  Folder #2 (Project organizer): This is the “possible projects” folder. You can organize your ideas here by moving them all into a central folder. For example, you might want to create a website for helping people manage their money better.

  You would then go back to folder one and take all the ideas you had about money or website building and dump it into your “money management folder.” At this point you are preparing your notebook/folder for a possible project that you’ll take action on.

  When I have enough content or ideas for this project (a book, a business, reforming my kitchen), then I’ll do a mind map and get everything out on paper. Or use a mind map software application.

  Folder #3 (Active projects): When you move your idea into the third folder, it means you have decided to move on with this idea by making it a project. Now what you do is take this project, and with your mind map, create a list of actions that gets you moving on your work.

  With notebook #3, I might have only two–three active folders here. That means I am currently working on the projects in this folder. Any projects or ideas that are still in the “growth phase” stay in folder #2.

  So, it should look like this: The first folder is for idea gathering. The second folder is for compiling similar ideas into one notebook folder related to a piece of work or project you are putting together. Then the third folder is your active project that you are currently working on.

  Purging Your Central Ideas Folder

  Since I put anywhere from ten to twenty ideas in my idea folder every day, I will purge this folder either at the end of each day or the end of the week. I then go through all the ideas and shift them into their folders so I know where everything is.

  For example, a friend of mine was renovating her kitchen. For months, she came up with ideas on what she wanted the kitchen to look like, the colors of it, and the design. She allowed her imagination to run for weeks, and every time she came up with an idea, she followed this system to totally redo her place. She had subfolders for all the different parts of the kitchen such as the flooring, walls, cabinets, and kitchen tools.

  In the central ideas folder, she had all the ideas she could come up with for her kitchen. Then, in the second folder, she had a folder labeled “kitchen renovations.” All the ideas she had in the first folder related to kitchen reforming were moved into this folder. Then, within this folder, she had subfolders for each part of the kitchen.

  This complete folder was then moved into the third folder for actions. Also, all related ideas such as swipe files, articles on kitchen reforming, and everything related to that project were kept in the folder/notebook. This keeps everything together, and it’s easy to access.

  Since I started using my ideas folders and keeping everything organized in its own individual folders, I have never been out of ideas. More importantly, I have not forgotten the ideas that I had. Nothing is more frustrating than losing something that is valuable, and you never really know what you will come up with. Your mind is a funnel of imagination and creativity; it is always at work and can feed you some amazing ideas when you are least expecting it.

  Three-step folders recap:

  Capture your ideas in one central notebook. Set this up on your desktop with backup in the Cloud, Google Drive or Evernote.

  Go back at the end of the (day) week and purge this folder, shifting ideas into their proper folder categories by moving them into the second folder. Create a mind map and start to put your project into focus.

  When you decide to take action, you move a project’s subfolder from your second folder into the third folder. Create. From here you can sketch out your action plan. Include all the other material you collected: articles, swipe files, and links.

  ABC: Always Be Creating!

  Setting Up Projects and

  Idea Implementation

  “First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.”

  — Napoleon Hill

  Working on a project that you are passionate about is when the ideas really begin to take shape. By now, you should have your
idea folders for various niches and/or categories. Don’t worry if you only have a few folders set up. This is a creative process that never ends.

  The important thing is that you have started setting up your ideas so they can be put into action when needed. If you haven’t over the course of the next few weeks, try to get your system set up so you can have an organized, logical flow to capturing and implementing all your thoughts.

  It is great when you can start a project of any kind (web course, building a new house, or landscaping your garden outside) and you already have a solid idea where to begin because of the ideas you have been keeping in your ideas folder or swipe files.

  When you do start a project that you have been collecting research data, ideas, and interviews for, just go into your central folder (you have one, right?) and pull everything out that is related to that project (remember the Whitman strategy). I make a central folder for the project I am working on and place it in the center of my desktop. Then, every time I sit down at the computer to do some work, everything I need is right there.

  Just a note on desktops: clear everything off except the project you are working on or core ideas related to your current work. Desktop clutter halts your efficiency and distracts you.

  Now, when it comes to your ideas for a particular project, you will have lots of ideas for other stuff too (cross fertilizing). This is great because you can start building other projects and contributing to their development at any time even if you won’t be starting that project for months or even years later.

  The only disadvantage to this is that you will be tempted to start something new every time you have a new idea. I fall into this trap where if I am struggling with a certain project and I can’t find the solution to a problem or I get stuck, I’ll start something new.

  Why?

  New ideas are exciting! This is especially true if the project you are working on becomes challenging (and it will) or you just want a break from it. There is nothing wrong with taking a break from your current work, but don’t let the break turn into a few months.

  Over the years, I had lots of half-finished projects and start-ups sitting around because I would start something, get halfway and take a break, then go do something else. Some projects I went back and finished and some are still waiting to be completed.

  Unless you are a project manager and you have to run several projects at once, I’d recommend you take all your ideas from one project and put them into action for that one project only. This cuts down on the chatter and noise of having to deal with so many action steps happening at the same time.

  As you come up with ideas for other related projects, throw them into your ideas folders or make a swipe file for them and then leave it. You can go back to them later on when you are ready to put them into action.

  Get into the “singular focus” mode and stay there. Work on your idea until you have a complete mind map of ideas and related topics surrounding your project. And I mean any project, big or small. Your project might only take you a few days to complete, or it might take several months.

  Stretching yourself too thin by working on several projects at the same time and then failing to finish any of them will cause frustration and a lack of motivation. By sticking with one project or task at a time, and working through to completion, you are going to feel motivated to start the next one right away. This boosts your confidence, and by using up your ideas for that one project, you can shift focus to the new project once the present one is finished.

  I use the “singular focus” method and try to stay tuned to one area of work until it is finished. This is a very powerful habit to develop. You might have a project that has several “parts” or “sub-projects,” depending on its scope and size, and that is okay, but stick within the framework of your current project. If you start something new before finishing what you are working on, you’ll lose momentum for the project you started.

  If you do get stuck on something, take some time to do more research or further your knowledge. You might want to expand on your mind map and get some new ideas happening that can build your momentum again. Once completed, or nearing completion, you will experience a boost of energy that propels you to get to that finish line and wrap things up.

  Just think about the massive surge in confidence and energy you’ll have if you:

  Complete your book

  Create an online course

  Open up your own business

  Launch your website

  Make an addition to your new home

  Finish your master’s degree

  Design a new product

  Now, some projects do require years to complete. While the scope of this book doesn’t cover projects in real depth, you can manage several projects at once if one of them is long term like working on a master’s degree (two–four years) and the other is short term such as creating an eBook or training manual (three–six months).

  Action Plan

  Use singleness of purpose and planning to focus on one project at a time. Pull out your ideas for this project and start to form the foundation for your work by piecing together the ideas.

  Add to your information and then more ideas will continue to flow in. Stay focused on the one project and finish it, using up all your ideas and depleting your ideas folder for this work. You will be more confident, have more energy, and feel great about your work as you continue to push ahead.

  Creating a Mind Map: Your Idea Expansion Tool

  A mind map is a great way to turn your ideas into a viable course of action. With a mind map you are performing a brain dump of all the ideas you have for your project. I would highly recommend putting all of your core ideas to the mind map test. How it works is simple and fun.

  You place your main idea in the center of the page. I would recommend that you do this on a large piece of paper or board that is either spread out on the floor or tacked to the wall. This way you can work at it standing up and you can move around more freely.

  The purpose of this is to get all your ideas down on paper in one big brain dump. Once done, you can step back and see what you have. You’ll be amazed the stuff that can come out of your head when you focus on one core concept for a fixed amount of time.

  Previously, I mentioned using the Pomodoro technique. I like this system because it sets a fixed time where you focus on just the one task. Again, set up your timer for twenty-five minutes and get cracking. See how many ideas you can dump out onto your mind map schematic in this short amount of time.

  Here is what you do to set up your mind map:

  Materials

  Tack up some poster paper on the wall. Prepare Post-it Notes and a marker. Use a timer to blast your ideas out for a set amount of time.

  Write Down Your Main Idea in the Center

  At the center of the board, I write down the main idea that I want to generate ideas for. If it is a book, you would write down the tentative title; if it is an idea for a course you want to create, write down the idea you have for the course, such as “How to build a website.” If it is a family vacation, you can write down the name of the place you are visiting. Decide on your main idea and get ready.

  Ready…Set…

  Set a timer for twenty minutes. For that time only, branch out from the central idea and connect all the other ideas associated with the main idea. Within several minutes that blank paper looks like a wild maze or a spider web. I usually put each idea in its own bubble, too. Each bubble represents an idea and that might also have sub-ideas that could branch off from it.

  Work for twenty–twenty-five minutes to get everything down on paper. I find that I start to slow down at the twenty-minute mark. Once you get some practice in, you can go at it for thirty minutes. This can be an exhausting activity but definitely worth it. This is how I prepare for all my books or blogs; I also use it for planning weekend trips or doing work around the house.

  Don’t stop to worry about the order or whether what you have written down is any
good. You don’t have to edit a mind map. Just create and keep pulling thoughts and ideas out of your head. You can then use the ideas in your map to identify the actions you can start taking right away. If this is a project that you’re working on, what actions can you see based on the mind map that you could take today? Stand back and look at the work you have done.

  Once you have your mind map ready, you might want to transfer it to your digital platform. It’s not necessary, but if you’d like to make it look a bit cleaner, creating the same mind map in an app would be a good option.

  Action Steps

  Focus on one project at a time; finish it up and move onto the next one.

  Keep moving all your ideas into their folders that are related to all future projects and work.

  Use the mind map strategy to brain dump all your ideas about a goal or project onto your board. Keep working until you have filled up the page or board with all your ideas.

  Step back and analyze what you have created. Then try to visualize the action steps you can begin taking and put them in logical order.

  Building on Existing

  Platforms

  “The ideas I stand for are not mine. I borrowed them from Socrates. I swiped them from Chesterfield. I stole them from Jesus. And I put them in a book. If you don't like their rules, whose would you use?”

  — Dale Carnegie

  Many of the inventions and innovations you see and use every day originated from someone’s idea. But chances are they weren’t just one person’s ingenuity but were built over years of idea building, innovation, and cross-fertilization. This is what happens when an idea evolves over time.

  It is a long-accepted belief that only creative people have great ideas, and that in order to be successful, you have to come up with something totally original that nobody else has ever thought of.