Getting more out of your reading

There is so much information out there that often, the difficult part is narrowing it down into "actionable items"  This goes for what you read online, in print magazines and in books.  Here are my suggestions for getting the most out of your reading:

Online materials:

• Organize your favorites into categories so you can easily go back and find an idea or suggestion you want to implement.  This also works well for underwriting guidelines.  Ever had to spend time searching for the same information more than once? 
• Print out interesting articles that you haven't had time to read and keep a "to-read" file folder.  When you have a few minutes for dr. appts, waiting on kids, etc take a few to read.

Print materials:

• For magazines, I keep a highlighter and post-it pad handy to mark the ideas that seem relevent to me.  Anything that has potential I make a note of. 
• I will also tear out pages if it is something I want to work on in the near future and put in my to-do file folder.  I utilize this folder as my idea-storing place.  I then go through it about once a month to pull out things I want to start implementing or working on.
• I enjoy reading, but a few years ago I found that when I would read business/marketing/motivation books I wasn't doing much with the information once I was done with the book.  There were always good ideas, sometimes great ideas, that could potentially have a positive influence on my business, yet I wasn't actually implementing anything.  This is when I changed the way I read this type of book.
• As I am reading, I keep short notes at the beginning of the book.  I put a STAR next to the good ideas and BOX around those things that I want to immediately implement.  This has helped me to easily see what influenced me as I read the book, even years later when I reference back.  Over the years, I've come up with my own system and recommend you do the same.  Do whatever works for you... it's all in the DOING! 

Photo of my notes on Ready for Anything by David Allen

Comments

[Russ Skinner]

Good idea, but it should be the back of the book for the comments. The index is already there (although it is frustrating how many items have to be added). OK, taking tongue out of cheek, some such routine is quite helpful, and allows me to use my otherwise down-time. (Same with syncronizing new reports and such with my computer and BlackBerry -- I can do a fast run-through over coffee or while waiting for someone.)

Keep up the good ideas, Bliss.

[Heidi Simpson]

Great idea - thanks for sharing!!