(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
limousine Ackley .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare1. Make your goals achievable.By achievable, we mean realistic and... Read More
A good white paper is a paper that makes you... Read More
Mixing and mingling with industry professionals is an opportunity that... Read More
With the expansion and diversion of businesses, manufacturers, and even... Read More
Whether you're interviewing for a new job, trying to woo... Read More
Complaint letters aren't always fun, but sometimes they need to... Read More
I've noticed a big shift away from traditional horror recently,... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Whichever theme you choose, all the elements,... Read More
Weather posting a page to your Website, writing a letter... Read More
Around eighty percent of nonfiction books today are written by... Read More
Most people can easily identify with the dreaded "writer's block".... Read More
In most aspects of business, we will be expected to... Read More
A book coaching client recently emailed me that she was... Read More
May I tell you about a writing technique shared by... Read More
For those looking at the jobs listings for writers, they... Read More
1. What Is A Premise?A premise is the point you... Read More
What Makes a Great Headline?Headlines are far more important than... Read More
You know you've got writing talent. Others enjoy your work... Read More
You're writing a story set in your local city, but... Read More
It was reported that the great American author Sinclair Lewis... Read More
1. Become an EavesdropperListen carefully to the way people REALLY... Read More
Many of us have always wanted to write. We have... Read More
PASSED, PASTPassed is the past tense of pass. Past means... Read More
My dad was wrong. I just discovered that I am... Read More
If Ben Franklin were alive today, he would be...uh, very... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare Alexander ..Want to write an article or book, but are stuck... Read More
I asked several writers how long it took them to... Read More
1 - Join a reading or writing group. Ask members... Read More
"If you want to change your life," Harry Beckwith wrote... Read More
When I asked new ezine subscribers, "What is your Number... Read More
Dr. Phil's Life Strategies, #1 New York Times Bestseller catches... Read More
Writing better is critical for students. But it's even more... Read More
1. Become an EavesdropperListen carefully to the way people REALLY... Read More
So you're one of 20 million Americans who want to... Read More
~~~Old age, to the unlearned, is winter; to the learned,... Read More
Everybody knows writing a story is not easy. Like the... Read More
In the ten years that I've taught people how to... Read More
I recently read a book where everything was akimbo. Arms... Read More
If your dream is to get published, the chance is... Read More
Do you consider yourself a storyteller? Do you consider yourself... Read More
It occurred to me one day that I needed something... Read More
A good white paper is a paper that makes you... Read More
Next time you're tempted to use italics for emphasis... STOP!"Why?"... Read More
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
Les Edgerton writes in his book, Finding Your Voice, that... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Whichever theme you choose, all the elements,... Read More
In the business of freelance writing, it's not enough to... Read More
You can create a great headline, a dynamic first sentence,... Read More
So you want to be a successful author? You want... Read More
Writing is hard work, and like all hard work, one... Read More
Writing |