A proverb (from Latin: proverbium) is a concrete, straightforward, wise saying, widely known and shared that teaches a truth based on common sense or experience. I am always on the lookout for new ‘proverbs” that I have not heard, ready to jot them down and store for later contemplation and teaching content. At times these morsels of wisdom can inspire me to feel like nothing is impossible.  And, at times they can cut like a surgeon’s scalpel to reveal the issue of my soul. I am also a student of productivity.  I strive to be very intentional in living my life in a productive manner, not to get more done, although a byproduct, instead to get the right things done.  Intentionally living this way, I enjoy living with more of a sense of ease and wellbeing. So I had one of those peanut butter meets chocolate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup moments.  You know, two entirely different things collide and create a magical blend of candy goodness.  Okay, maybe this idea is not quite that.  But I thought, what if a great proverb were to collide with a productivity principle?  You would get my new made-up word PROVERTIVITY! Each month, I plan to take one proverb and a productive principle and provide a few thoughts around the combination.  Now, I am a Christ Follower and have grown up with proverbs being a reference to a book of wisdom, in the Bible, entitled Proverbs.  Although I will pull some of these timeless, biblical truths into this series, I will also share wise sayings from around the world and from some of my favorite modern-day mentors.  I will release a new post each month.  I would love to get your feedback on the posts, and if you have a proverb that you want to share with me, leave it in the comments below or email me at james@liveleadlast.com. Now for the first installment of POVERTIVITY…

“The faintest ink is more powerful than the strongest memory.” — Chinese Proverb

How many times have you heard something, been asked something, or you had an idea, only moments later to forget?  I can’t keep count of the number of times I have run to the grocery store to pick up one item, arrived at the store, filled my cart with everything but the one thing, checked out, returned home, only to then realize that I had forgotten the item I went to the store for in the first place.  It’s real life, people! Our memory will undoubtedly let us down.  And, unfortunately,  it will sometimes be at the worst possible times. I love this proverb!  It seems like common sense to write things down, so you don’t forget.  But we all know that common sense is not common practice. So, instead, we think we can remember all the little pieces of information swimming around in our fishbowl brain, oblivious to the predators of time and distraction that are waiting to eat one of our small fish for a snack. Most studies show that you can hold around four pieces of information in your working memory.  That is not a lot!   And,  the information in your working memory begins fading as quickly as thirty to sixty seconds.

“Your brain is for having ideas not holding them.”  — David Allen

Michael Harris, in his book The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We’ve Lost in a World of Constant Connection says memory is an “inventive act.” Unlike computer data, human memories are dynamic, not static. When you recall something, your brain assembles the memory from neurons in different regions of the brain, each contributing different aspects, such as appearance, sounds, feel or taste.  This would be why the recounting of a story may vary in detail each time retold.  Harris quotes psychologist Charles Fernyhough saying, “memories are created in the present, rather than being faithful records of the past.” So, let’s get practical. Here are three things you can start right now,  never to let another one of your ideas, notes, or tasks get lost and to remember to pick up the milk or whatever that thing was you were supposed to get when you went to the grocery store.

1.  GET A TOOL

Always have a tool with you to capture information.  I use an app on my phone called Drafts 5.  The reason I like it is for the ability to very quickly open the app and instantly start typing the information.  I also love that it integrates with all my other tools including, Evernote, Nozbe, One Day and Fantastical. You may not be digital and like to roll old-school, analog.  That’s totally cool.  Have paper and writing tool with you at all times.  I have good friends who use the pocket size moleskin journal.  It’s pretty easy to whip out and write down a note.

“I would advise you to read with a pen in hand and enter in a little book short hints of what you find that is curious, or that may be useful; for this will be the best method of imprinting such particulars in your memory.” — Benjamin Franklin

2.  HAVE A TRIGGER

A trigger is an event or action that will kick off an automatic reaction. Having a trigger to remind you to use your tool will be very helpful as you begin the discipline of writing everything down.  One easy trigger to use is “If This Then That.”  My friend Frank Bealer wrote a little book called, The Myth of Balance: Thriving in the Tension of Ministry, Work, and Life, where he lays out some practical teaching about the “If This Then That” trigger. Here is how it works.   You tell yourself “If this happens, then I will take out my note-taking tool and write it down immediately.”  Here are a few examples.  “If anyone asks me to do anything, then I will immediately take out my note-taking tool and write it down.  Or, “If anyone gives me information, I will immediately take out my note-taking tool and write it down.”

3.  REVIEW THE NOTES

The magic in writing everything down is that you have the confidence that you can go back and read the notes you have taken and make a plan to accomplish the tasks that you have been asked to do.  There is a small caveat.  You have to review the notes and do something with them.  Just writing them down does not help, if you never look at or review what you wrote.  I would recommend that you take time on a daily or at the minimum weekly basis and re-read all the information that you have put in your tool. So, whether your ink is on a moleskin journal, a yellow legal-pad or digitally shining back at you through the glass of your smartphone or a computer.  It will, without doubt, help you be more successful and productive than trying to keep it all in your brain. Oh, you may even remember to get the milk.

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