January 2024 – Austin Alford

A Discipline/Habit to Implement

How do you organize your ideas?

I highly value the importance of having a well-structured system to organize ideas. Without a readily accessible archiving system, we risk losing out on capturing the continuous flow of ideas that come our way.

I’ll share with you how I’ve been organizing my ideas…

Apple notes is what I use because it is…

FREE

Easily accessible both on my phone, laptop, and computer

User friendly

I have 4 MAIN folders that organize everything:

PROJECTS – This folder contains all the projects I am currently working on.

AREAS – This is where I store files related to different aspects of my life, such as finances, healthcare, vehicles, etc.

RESOURCES – In this folder, I keep all the resources I have collected on various subjects that interest me, such as leadership, habits, marriage, etc.

ARCHIVE – This is where I store all the ideas that are not currently in progress.

Now, whenever I find myself in a public setting and a spontaneous book idea arises, I am able to swiftly record it within a mere 10 seconds. With a simple tap on my notes page application, I select ‘ARCHIVE’, then proceed to choose ‘Book Ideas’, allowing me to promptly jot down the concept.

This method has proven to be highly effective for me, regardless of my current location or activity. Whether I am working, taking a break, or out in public for various reasons, I am able to gather valuable ideas.

Let me know what your system is! If you don’t have one, try adopting this one and make it your own.

Presented below is a thought from me on writing, a quote from someone else on writing, an excerpt from that writer, and a discipline/habit to implement…

We will be focusing on consistency today, the anthem of 2024.

A Thought

“Begin with small steps and maintain a consistent approach. The ultimate objective should be consistency in putting pen to paper.”

– Austin Alford

A Quote

“Almost anybody can accomplish almost anything if they work at it long enough, hard enough, and smart enough.”

– Mark Patterson (Author of Win the Day)

An Excerpt

An excerpt from Win the Day by Mark Patterson

“Winning the day isn’t about getting it right the first time. It’s about getting it right eventually. It’s about getting back up no matter how many times you’ve fallen down. It’s living to fight another day.

If you keep eating frogs, you’ll eventually get there! Those two pages will eventually turn into a book. Those six hundred swings will eventually turn into a home run. Those 650 compositions will eventually turn into an all-time classic. Those twenty thousand miles of laps will eventually turn into a gold medal.

‘People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are,’ said a character in one of George Bernard Shaw’s plays. ‘I don’t believe in circumstances.’ Me either! ‘The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them’.

The way you make circumstances is by making time for the habits that will create those circumstances. Its called the mundanity of excellence, and it’s all about eating the frog. Well-begun is half-done–that’s true. But the game never ends. You’ve got to keep swimming. Why? Slow and steady wins the race.”

A Discipline/Habit to Implement

What is the biggest challenge when it comes to writing? Finding consistency.

How can you maintain consistency in your writing?

What is the most practical location, time of day, and duration that you can dedicate to writing every day?

Let’s focus on these two questions and develop our own habits and discipline to consistently put pen to paper!

Put Pen to Paper this week and have fun!

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