Comments on: Capturing ideas

By: Michael Ray Hopkin

Michael Ray Hopkin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:51:33 +0000

Chris, interesting combination (notebook & wiki). Do you ever reconcile the two or do you keep different ideas in each?

-Michael

By: Chris Cummings

Chris Cummings — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:12:05 +0000

Years ago, I used the Post-It Note method for capturing ideas. That worked well for awhile, but definitely had its drawbacks: Impossible to sort, certainly untidy, and did not scale. Today, I’m using analog (notebook and paper) and digital (internal Wiki) to capture and keep ideas alive and visible until they can move onto their next destination.

By: How Do Product Managers Capture Ideas? | Product Management Meets Pop Culture

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:26:39 +0000

[...] Ray Hopkin wrote recently about the importance of capturing ideas: Ideas are the fuel for great products. [...] The more ideas you capture the more likely you are [...]

By: Michael Ray Hopkin

Michael Ray Hopkin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:37:28 +0000

David, thanks for your insight. I agree with having just one book. I’ve tried classifying ideas into different books and it didn’t work out very well. There’s something about writing it (an idea) down — regardless of where — that burns it into your mind and makes it available when you need it.

I also agree with your thoughts around searching out ideas and going back to past sources.

-Michael

By: davidwlocke

davidwlocke — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:56:19 +0000

I have about four notebooks. You are better off having just one.

I go out in search of the novel topic. If I’ve been reading math books, I look for an architecture book. If I’ve been reading business books, I’ll look at biology.

Last night, I picked up a book on architecture that I’d read before. Reading it again gave rise to some new ideas.

At times, I force myself to read another book on a topic that I know cold just because there is always something different in another person’s perspective.

No matter what I’m reading a notebook is ready. If I’m making notes about what I’m reading, or the presentation being made, I write down what it makes me think about, what I’m recalling in addition to the content.

By: Capturing ideas – Lead on Purpose Blog « Tech4buziness – Eng

Capturing ideas – Lead on Purpose Blog « Tech4buziness – Eng — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:08:47 +0000

[...] Ideas beget other ideas. via leadonpurposeblog.com [...]

By: Product Management Reader: 30Nov09 | The Productologist: Exploring the Depths of Product Management

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:44:50 +0000

[...] Capturing Ideas [Lead on Purpose] [...]

By: Michael Ray Hopkin

Michael Ray Hopkin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:14:51 +0000

I like the idea of using voice memos to capture ideas. The key is that you use something and have it available to capture ideas when they come.

Your method of selecting people with different world views is perceptive. You always learn more when you are challenged.

-Michael

By: themadpeacock

themadpeacock — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:12:27 +0000

Finding a way to capture them when they happen is half the battle, for that I most often use the voice memo feature on my phone. Testing them to destruction is the other half of the challenge.

The best way to find out if an idea has the power to survive is to share it. I intentionally select people who have different world views than me but who I know have an open mind.