Moleskine Passion Journals - Review Part one

Received my Moleskine passion journals the other day. I ordered from www.mojolondon.co.uk - great service - Ordered three - Book journal, Wellness journal and Recipe journal.

Each is similar in style and features:

• Embossed cover with relevant images e.g. the wellness one has images of people doing sports, yoga etc.
• A planning section of two pages
• Predefined sections with templates; the Wellness one has weekly goals; Exercise log, Diet, General Health, Sports and Inspirations - each template page fits the theme e.g. exercise log has 4 date rows with columns for date, type of exercise, time, distance/repetitions & workout notes
• 6 freeform sections with the labels blank,  five 'boxes per page - there are plenty of options with labels included or you could do you own on label printer - examples of mine are Gear - for training gadgets, kit I want to buy, Routes for bike or run route , workouts where I can log specific circuits, Classes for kaiser bike sessions or circuit training sessions or swim sessions.
• Three ribbon markets - like those in the City Books - very useful given the different sections.
• Size - the journals are the large Moleskine ie the 'A5' size which is great given the information that can be kept.

Useful?

Yes if you have specific interests the wellness works great for me asa fitness log - previously kept one in free form this has proved more useful - the inspirations section has proved really useful for writing sports quotes and I have taken to pasting in photos.

I'm an avid reader so the book journal stays by the bed and with the page per book format  I can keep references and notes from the books as I'm reading them.

They are flexible enough to make them personal - no journal would ever be the same.

Yes you could do this in one journal or a specific blank journal for each interest.

However these are nice books - OK I may well be addicted to Moleskine and can't wait for the rest of the folio range due out later this year. In the digital world it is nice to take time out and use a journal for reflection and log memories or locate specific information for future use - e.g. books to buy, gear to buy recipes to try - I'm hooked

Cost about £15 expensive, possibly  - though you could pay that for a software application to do some of the same things but there's something appealing about the tactile feel of these journals and using the journal does feel good.

I will add another review with photos shortly.

Mind Maps for Business - Tony Buzan

Currently reading a new book by Buzan - "Mind Maps for Business" - this has rekindled my interest in real mind-mapping. The book is an easy read with specific focus on business applications such as presentations, project management,  strategic thinking and negotiations. The book has lots of examples and case studies on the application. Although many of the computer-based examples are based, not surprisingly, on Buzan's own imind-map software.  If you want to check out some examples before you buy the book check out the supporting web-site:

mindmapsforbusiness.com


Whilst I have been an avid mind mapper for many years going back to basics with this book has made me realise that actually I have 'not been doing it right' so this has been a good refresher on the core principles of mind mapping. I'd recommend it as either a refresher or a starting guide for mind maps. Reading this has also made me dig out my other fav book "Idea Mapping" by Jamie Nast.

Moleskine v Circa

I have two vices moleskine notebooks and Levenger's circa range. I cant always decide and switch back and forth- the flexibility of the circa versus the style and simplicity of the moleskine - although there are times I wish I could settle on one or the other. I bought the Levenger stuff on a trip to Chicago last year and still have plenty of paper - I have a rollabind punch so can make my own- and then I see an article on moleskine or see one in a store and I switch back..darnit!!

Anyone else in this dilemma or should I just settle on one?

Visual communication and business

I have always found externalizing and visualizing something a far more intuitive way of learning, communicating  or problem solving - particularly when communicating to one or many. Whilst there seems to be a growing trend of sites/blogs on visual communications or visual thinking I wonder why this has not taken off as a business tool. My earliest visualizing was and remains via mind-maps - although I still get odd looks and even very negative reactions to dealing with 'serious' business stuff via mind-maps or other forms of visual communications. Is this because images/pictures/drawings are considered 'play' and therefore not appropriate for the workplace? or is there a fear that visual communications is the domain of those who can draw?


I cant's 'draw' in the pure art sense but I find my mind works far more effectively with the mixture of images, words and sound - I often find myself drawing and talking myself through a problem - yes it is weird but for me it makes a big difference.

imind map versus mindmanager

I have used mindmanager for a number of years and recently acquired imindmap. imindmap give a more natural  Buzan mindmap style, more creative/organic/colourful.

This makes mindmanager look and feel more busines and more 'corporate'.

Whilst I like imindmap and have found mysefl drifting back to mindmanager as it is , to me, a more complete business tool.

Anyone had any other experiences of both programmes?

New moleskines

Having seen the latest news from Moleskine about the new range of journals and A4 loose leaf products I can't wait. Clearly mixed feedback over the net on the new range but I love the city notebooks so the new passion journals will make an interesting addition to the growing collection.

New blog first post

This blog is about my relationship with the things that I enjoy most:

• Moleskine notebooks - I'm probably in the realm of the addicted here having at least one of every kind
• Circa notebooks - my other addiction although living in the UK this is not an easy one to fill
• Mindmapping - being a non-linear person this has been a life saver for me both on computer and on paper
• Visual notes - I havea strong preference for seeing visual representations of stuff rather the lots of words

I hope to share and engage with like minded people so any feedback wil be welcomed.