(excerpted from the "How to Use a Journal" audio series by Jim Rohn)
If you're serious about becoming a wealthy, powerful, sophisticated, healthy, influential, cultured and unique individual, keep a journal. Don't trust your memory. When you listen to something valuable, write it down. When you come across something important, write it down.
I used to take notes on pieces of paper and torn-off corners and backs of old envelopes. I wrote ideas on restaurant placemats. On long sheets, narrow sheets and little sheets and pieces of paper thrown in a drawer. Then I found out that the best way to organize those ideas is to keep a journal. I've been keeping these journals since the age of twenty-five. The discipline makes up a valuable part of my learning, and the journals are a valuable part of my library.
I am a buyer of blank books. Kids find it interesting that I would buy a blank book. They say, "Twenty-six dollars for a blank book! Why would you pay that?" The reason I pay twenty-six dollars is to challenge myself to find something worth twenty-six dollars to put in there. All my journals are private, but if you ever got a hold of one of them, you wouldn't have to look very far to discover it is worth more than twenty-six dollars.
I must admit, if you got a glimpse of my journals, you'd have to say that I am a serious student. I'm not just committed to my craft, I'm committed to life, committed to learning new concepts and skills. I want to see what I can do with seed, soil, sunshine and rain to turn them into the building blocks of a productive life.
Keeping a journal is so important. I call it one of the three treasures to leave behind for the next generation. In fact, future generations will find these three treasures far more valuable than your furniture.
The first treasure is your pictures. Take a lot of pictures. Don't be lazy in capturing the event. How long does it take to capture the event? A fraction of a second. How long does it take to miss the event? A fraction of a second. So don't miss the pictures. When you're gone, they'll keep the memories alive.
The second treasure is your library. This is the library that taught you, that instructed you, that helped you defend your ideals. It helped you develop a philosophy. It helped you become wealthy, powerful, healthy, sophisticated, and unique. It may have helped you conquer some disease. It may have helped you conquer poverty. It may have caused you to walk away from the ghetto. Your library, the books that instructed you, fed your mind and fed your soul, is one of the greatest gifts you can leave behind.
The third treasure is your journals: the ideas that you picked up, the information that you meticulously gathered. But of the three, journal writing is one of the greatest indications that you're a serious student. Taking pictures, that is pretty easy. Buying a book at a book store, that's pretty easy. It is a little more challenging to be a student of your own life, your own future, your own destiny. Take the time to keep notes and to keep a journal. You'll be so glad you did. What a treasure to leave behind when you go. What a treasure to enjoy today!
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine. Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine, go to http://jim-rohn.inspiresyou.com
eco-friendly cleaning service Bannockburn ..1. What Is A Premise?A premise is the point you... Read More
Do you suffer from writer's block? Is there a pending... Read More
You may not remember this, but in the early days... Read More
Day after day, writers tend to sit for hours writing... Read More
As a freelance writer, it is important to present yourself... Read More
Every writer knows that the urge to write is not... Read More
Whenever you sit down to plot a story (or even... Read More
Most books aren't rejected because the stories are "bad." They're... Read More
Summer's here and the time is write for dancing in... Read More
As a student of Spanish, my goal was to think... Read More
The only way to become a writer is to write.... Read More
So you want to be a writer, except you don't... Read More
Ever wonder what an author's life is like? What that... Read More
Writers are notorious collectors of slips of paper. They tear... Read More
Technology vendors often contribute bylined articles to trade journals. The... Read More
Listen, consider this scenario.You have a deadline to honour. Time... Read More
Weather posting a page to your Website, writing a letter... Read More
1. Before you write anything down define not what you... Read More
I'm a writing fool! 2 book proposals, 1 user's guide,... Read More
Once you've plotted out your book, developed the characters and... Read More
All writers should use a plan whether written or reflected.... Read More
How many times have you checked out a job board... Read More
When you sit down to write a steamy romance, a... Read More
Tips for your writing journeySo, you'd like to be a... Read More
Every writer expends a great deal of creative energy developing... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..How to avoid mistakes that undermine your credibilityYou're probably already... Read More
User documentation is all too often written by programmers for... Read More
The urge to write fiction seems God given for some,... Read More
Hands up all those who'd like to have a successful... Read More
Writers are an insecure lot.It's easy to understand why. You... Read More
Complaint letters aren't always fun, but sometimes they need to... Read More
Often, time is an enemy of writers. Sales seem slow... Read More
How to Start Your Story with a BangThe purpose of... Read More
So, you want to freelance as an editor, writer, copy... Read More
All your publishing options are as follows:--Conventional publishing--Vanity or subsidy... Read More
A good white paper is a paper that makes you... Read More
People want information, they want it quick, frequently in short... Read More
We've all heard a politician on their soapbox, pushing for... Read More
Taming the Book Proposal: The BasicsOh, that most maddening of... Read More
Has the thought run across you mind that you might... Read More
The Scanning ReaderWriting for the Web is different than writing... Read More
Rejection. This scary word plagues virtually every writer this side... Read More
Proofreading worksheets are a great tool to help individuals open... Read More
Freelance editing opportunities are out there, you just need to... Read More
We've all seen those ads that grab our attention and... Read More
A few days ago, I critiqued a chapter for a... Read More
Ah, writing. For those of us who love to play... Read More
A few months ago, I wrote a guide entitled: 101... Read More
Next time you're tempted to use italics for emphasis... STOP!"Why?"... Read More
It's the funniest thing. When someone asks me what I... Read More
Writing |