Now you need a new tool to help you keep track of all these ideas. Keep the Big List of all your interests in one three-ring binder. This is an index of every new interest that shows itself, all in one handy place. I’d start with a three-ring binder that has a 1-inch spine and a number of blank sheets. You can have dividers to separate pages, but a small sticky note attached to each sheet will save space.
Each sheet will have a different interest on it. If you were reading a magazine, like Ralph does, and came upon an article about a new breakthrough in electric lighting, you’d create one sheet for that topic and keep a log. The top entry would have the date and the title and location of the article with perhaps a brief note about the most compelling point or the most important question you had, perhaps what you’d like to do the next time you’re free. The goal is to keep all new interests in one place, like an index. There are many ways to do this on your computer too, if that’s more comfortable for you.
What’s it for? When you have a few open moments, you can look in your Interest Index Binder to see which subject attracts you and then go online to follow an interesting discussion on that subject where you can ask some questions or read what others have said. The result: You’ll stop worrying that you’ll never be able to follow up on your interests and be able to continually revisit the most interesting ones far more often than you thought was possible. That means you’ll be going into them as deeply as you want to. (You won’t be afraid of “losing” an interest, either.)
And when one binder fills up, you can start another-and put the previous one on a shelf where you can always find it.
And while we’re talking about binders…
Here’s a first-rate tool that you’ll be hearing about in coming chapters. It’s perfect for someone who has dozens of interests and likes to investigate each of them more than is allowed by putting one crowded page in the above Index Binder. What I’m talking about is 20 or 30 THREE-RING BINDERS or as many as you have room for.
If you haven’t used them in the past, you’re in for a delightful revelation when you create a different binder for every interest. Having lots of binders is part of the system. Every time you get inspired by a new interest, you reach for a new binder and give that new interest a home. When you start feeling stressed because yet another interest has arrived, one you can’t possibly devote yourself to in the way you want to, create a binder for it and put it on the shelf. The relief you feel after doing something this simple will surprise you. But it’s another way of knowing nothing will be lost and everything will wait for you when you do have time.
The best kind of binder for your needs has clear "windows" on the outside where you can slip in notes and change labels easily if you decide to discard any subjects or move them to larger binders. For these beginning binders, you want those with the narrow spine, about half an inch wide. They’re less intimidating if they don’t fill up, and they allow you to stack dozens on one shelf.
If you do a lot of your delving on the Internet, keep three-hole paper in your printer and hit the "print" button whenever you want to keep something. Put that printout in one of your blank three-ring binders, write the topic on a piece of paper and slip it into the window on the spine. This little tool will make you a very happy Scanner.
Create an Interest Index Binder or a set of individual interest binders for yourself. Add at least a few of your interests and a few notes on each one. You can use a computer or internet tool instead of 3-ring binders if that’s more comfortable for you. In a new comment on this page, tell us how this feels. Does it take any of the stress out of having so many interests? Does it invite you to pursue more of your interests? Does it encourage action? After you share your experience, I hope you will read the rest of the comments to see all the great reports from your group members and reply to some of them.
Please be sure to subscribe to future comments on this exercise or to check back here on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning for new ones.
Use the Next link (up above the title) to continue on to What I Learned from Chapter 6 after you are done adding your comments.
I’m building quite a collection of binders through this exercise and am wondering if anyone else is having trouble with the way they stack in a bookcase. I suppose this is because the binders don’t yet have many pages in them. The open ends of the binders tend to collapse so that my collection of binders won’t stack neatly. Any suggestions on how to remedy this problem?
Well, I found one. I wanted one that wasn’t too big or too office-like. This one has a transparent cover with a sleeve for inserting a cover.
I started with one binder and added three-ring folders for multiple interests.
I had plans last year to visit a country pub with my father and son upon our arrival to England. Those plans were dashed when my dad had surgery and we re-routed through Ireland to meet my wife and daughter in Virginia.
I tracked down and printed the pub web page as the first entry in my interest index binder. I’ve gathered plenty of clippings in the past.
While learning how to organize a bedroom with my son, I suggested throwing away a card. He said he wants to go back there someday. I’m giving him a section in my binder for now.