High achievers capture ideas and take action to turn them into measurable outcomes. Learn how idea capturing can unlock your creative potential and make it an effortless, essential part of your life.
Great ideas often strike when we least expect them, and just as quickly, they can slip away. Many successful individuals attribute their accomplishments to capturing ideas the moment they emerge. These high achievers ensure they’re always equipped with the tools to record their thoughts, day or night.
Ideas Come Unexpected
Ideas often come to us when we least expect them. They tend to arise when we release intense focus and expectations and keep our attention open, allowing our subconscious mind the freedom to process information. This often happens when we step away, engage in relaxing activities, or give our minds a chance to wander. Ideas can also result from random encounters and new experiences.
These moments of exposure can lead to the cross-pollination of ideas as diverse perspectives converge to spark fresh insights and creative connections. Sometimes, ideas emerge as the culmination of an “incubation process,” surfacing when the time is right.
Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, explores this phenomenon in her renowned TED Talk, Your Elusive Creative Genius.1 She shares two captivating stories that illustrate how creative ideas can strike unexpectedly and how people respond to capture them. The first story is about Ruth Stone, an American poet. Stone grew up in rural Virginia, where she experienced what she described as poems rushing toward her with the force of nature.
Gilbert recounts:
“As Stone was growing up in rural Virginia, she would be out working in the fields and feel and hear a poem coming at her from over the landscape. It was like a thunderous train of air, barrelling down toward her. When she felt it coming, shaking the ground beneath her feet, she knew she had only one option. In her words, she would ‘run like hell’ to the house to grab a piece of paper fast enough to catch the poem as it thundered through her. The goal was to capture it before it moved on, untamed.”
Gilbert also shares a story about the iconic singer-songwriter and composer Tom Waits. While driving down the freeway in Los Angeles, Waits experienced a sudden spark of inspiration.
“All of a sudden, he hears this little fragment of melody—a gorgeous, tantalizing piece of music. He longed for it, but he was behind the wheel with no way to capture it.”
This experience marked a shift in Waits’s approach to handling inspiration, teaching him to acknowledge the fleeting nature of ideas.
The British musician John Lennon, a founding member of The Beatles, also described a similar moment of spontaneous creativity. He shared this about the writing process for Nowhere Man:
“I’d spent five hours that morning trying to write a song that was meaningful and good, and I finally gave up and lay down. Then ‘Nowhere Man’ came—words and music, fully formed.”2
These anecdotes highlight a universal truth: ideas often appear at unpredictable moments. Whether they come as a rushing train, a fleeting melody, or a fully formed concept, the key lies in being ready to capture them when they strike. Each story serves as a reminder of inspiration’s mysterious and magical nature and the importance of seizing it before it slips away.
Successful People Capture Ideas
Elizabeth Gilbert describes the surge of anxiety Tom Waits felt at the thought of losing a fleeting creative idea:
“Tom didn’t have a piece of paper, a pencil, or a tape recorder. So, he starts to feel all of that old anxiety rise in him, thinking, ‘I’m going to lose this thing, and I’ll be haunted by this song forever.“
This moment is a reminder of how fragile and fleeting ideas can be, and how easily they can slip away if not captured.
Nobody wants to find themselves in Tom’s position—grappling with the fear of losing a brilliant idea that might never return. Ideas can be priceless, some worth millions, and others holding the potential to change lives. Letting them slip away is a loss no one wants to endure.
Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx and a celebrated entrepreneur, exemplifies a habit of idea-capturing. She carried a notebook with her everywhere, every day, for over 20 years. On her Instagram, Sara shared an image of dozens of worn-out notebooks, each brimming with captured thoughts and inspirations. Her note-taking philosophy is simple yet profound:
“I carried the same size/brand notebook for over 20 years, every minute of the day. I use them mostly to write down ideas because I don’t want to lose them. The minute I have them, I write them down instantly. Ideas are gifts from the Universe. They are precious!” 3
Richard Branson, the iconic entrepreneur behind Virgin Group, takes a similar approach. He credits much of his success to his habit of taking notes.
Branson emphasizes, “In my experience, 99 percent of people in leadership roles don’t take notes. If you don’t write your ideas down, they could leave your head before you even leave the room.”4
For Branson, jotting down thoughts ensures no opportunity or insight is overlooked.
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, is also known for his meticulous note-taking. Gates uses this practice during meetings and when reading books, especially non-fiction. It helps him concentrate and retain key information.
Rob Howard, a close observer of Gates’s habits, shared: “He doesn’t take notes from top-to-bottom but rather logically divides the page into quadrants, each reserved for a different thought. For example, all his questions appeared to be placed at the bottom of the page.” 5
Gates reinforces the importance of capturing ideas: “It doesn’t matter how you record your notes, as long as you do.”
These examples serve as a reminder that great ideas don’t wait. Whether through a notebook, a smartphone, or even the back of an envelope, capturing ideas ensures they are never lost and always ready to inspire your next big step.
Strategies for Capturing Ideas
How will you capture ideas? These three strategies will help you seize and make the most of your fleeting ideas.
Be Always Ready to Capture Ideas
Can you imagine carrying a regular-sized notebook everywhere you go, as Sarah Blakely did for over 20 years? Picture yourself lugging it to parties, the beach, or the grocery store, or pulling out a pencil to write down ideas during a concert. While it’s an impressive dedication to creativity, it’s not necessary in today’s world. Thanks to technology, the days of carrying a physical notebook everywhere are behind us.
Most of us now own smartphones equipped with note-taking and voice-recording apps, making capturing ideas on the go easier than ever. Even better, these devices are usually with us 24/7, tucked into our pockets, bags, or hands. This means you can capture ideas the moment inspiration strikes, no matter where you are.
Consider keeping your note-taking and voice-recording apps on your smartphone’s front page to make the most of these tools. Accessibility is key. Having these apps within immediate reach can save time and ensure you don’t forget your brilliant ideas. Whether it’s a fleeting thought, a piece of advice you hear, or a business idea, you can document it instantly without needing to rummage through your bag or hunt for an app.
Voice recording apps are especially useful when you’re unable to type, like when driving or exercising. You can dictate your thoughts and transcribe them later. Similarly, note-taking apps allow you to categorize and organize ideas.
By removing any friction in capturing ideas, you’re more likely to document those fleeting moments of inspiration that could otherwise slip away. So, if you haven’t already, explore the apps on your phone and make them a staple in your creative toolkit.
Write Down Ideas Instantly
The most crucial takeaway from this article is simple: write down your ideas instantly. Richard Branson famously emphasized that ideas often leave our heads quickly and may never return. Capturing ideas in the moment is essential.
This might mean narrating a quick message while driving (using a voice recording app for safety) or pulling over to the side of the road to write down ideas. Don’t hesitate to pause and capture your thoughts at a social gathering, an event, or even in the middle of your speach.
Write your ideas down on paper, or better yet, directly in your preferred note-taking app. If you use paper temporarily, transfer the idea to your digital system as soon as possible to keep it organized and accessible.
Keep a pen and paper in front of you during public presentations or meetings. Often, the ideas that emerge during such moments are fleeting but valuable. Even a few scribbled keywords can trigger your memory and allow you to expand on the idea later. You can also use your smartphone to snap a picture and quickly attach a note for context.
When selecting a note-taking app, choose one that prioritizes speed and ease of use. Avoid apps that require navigating multiple folders and permissions to write your notes. Instead, opt for native apps like Google Keep or Apple Notes, which are streamlined and user-friendly.
No brilliant idea slips through the cracks if you capture ideas the moment they occur. Embrace this habit, and you’ll be amazed at how many valuable ideas you can retain and develop.
Create a System to Organize Ideas
Avoid the mistake of dumping all your ideas into a single, chaotic space and struggling to make sense of the clutter later. Instead, establish high-level folders to organize your ideas. This way, you can quickly store each note in a designated place where it’s easy to locate and process when needed.
I keep multiple folders in the Evernote application to organize my thoughts and ideas effectively.
The first folder, “Business Ideas,” is self-explanatory, where I store concepts, plans, and innovations I think of or come across. It’s my go-to place for entrepreneurial inspiration and brainstorming.
The second folder is “Book Summaries.” I listen to audiobooks regularly. Whenever I encounter interesting thoughts or memorable quotes, I capture them in this folder. Similarly, I have folders for podcasts and YouTube videos where I jot down key takeaways or notable points that resonated with me.
One of my most meaningful folders is dedicated to family, friends and other important people. In this folder, I write about them, including things that are important to them, gift ideas that might brighten their day, and suggestions for places or activities we can enjoy together. It helps nurture relationships and show care and thoughtfulness.
I have a “Wellness” folder where I store ideas on healthy living. That folder includes workout tips, recipes, meditation pracices, sleep strategies, and longetivity tips that I collect from articles and other sources.
I also have a folder where I save links to interesting articles, schedules of important events, my annual goals, and topics I want to research further.
This way, any meaningful piece of information or idea can be instantly captured in a relevant folder, ready to be revisited, reflected on, and acted upon when the time is right.
Review Your Ideas and Act on Them
Simply recording ideas isn’t enough. Turning them into actionable steps is what makes them valuable. Now, when your pipeline of ideas is ready, make the best use of it. Review your ideas regularly, at least monthly and act on them.
If your goal is to develop your social capital, check your Meaningful Relationships folder. If you have a note reminding you to invite a friend for coffee, text her and ask if she’s available. If you jotted down a particular place to explore with your children, take time to research it and make the reservation.
Some notes bring value only when they are linked to similar ones. Let’s say you are interested in the connection between creativity and vacations. A collection of examples from multiple sources can reveal a trend that leads to new and interesting conclusions.
Make the review process a consistent part of your routine. Set aside a specific time each week or month to review your notes and decide on the next steps. This habit will keep you on top of your tasks, help you progress on your goals, and ensure that no important ideas slip through the cracks.
Key Takeaways
- Capture Ideas Instantly. Great ideas are fleeting. If you don’t record them immediately, you risk losing them forever.
- Stay Prepared. Keep your note-taking and voice-recording apps easily accessible, so you’re always ready to document your thoughts the moment inspiration strikes.
- Organize and Act. Regularly review and organize your notes. Turn your ideas into actionable steps to maximize their potential.
Footnotes
- Your Elusive Creative Genius, a TED Talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, explores the source of artistic creative inspiration.
- The Mirror US article John Lennon almost gave up on his dreams before writing beloved Beatles song by Scarlett O’Toole explores Lennon’s growing self-awareness during the Beatles era.
- An Instagram post where Sara Blakely proudly shares her collection of notebooks
- In the Inc. article “Billionaire Richard Branson Does This at Every Meeting. Here’s Why You Should Do It Too.” Brenda Barbosa emphasizes that note-taking is essential for making good decisions, generating ideas, and problem-solving.
- In the Thrive Global article “1 Simple Habit Proven to Make You More Successful,” author Ash Rao champions note-taking as the foundational success habit shared by high achievers.