Introduction
The idea of keeping a physical journal may not appeal to everyone, but for me, it has been crucial to the success of the location-independent life I have today. Journaling all my thoughts and actions while working on my business brought order to my otherwise busy and sometimes chaotic lifestyle. If you find yourself with bits of paper scattered around or forgotten notes on your phone, I suggest you keep reading…
3 Benefits I Truly Appreciated by Keeping a Physical Journal
First - The Journey
Before I began, there was a time when I thought my business idea was fully formed in my mind. However, it kept evolving, with each new version seeming like an improvement over the last. Before long, it felt like the concept had turned into something completely different. That’s when I realised things needed to change—my thoughts were scattered. So, I made the decision to stop overthinking and finally put my ideas into writing— or rather fingers to keyboard.
By this point, I had been mentally mapping out this new idea for a month or two. With the concept now clear in my mind and my laptop in front of me, I gave it five minutes before closing the screen, grabbing a blank sheet of paper, and beginning a full brain dump. It took several days of returning to it, turning what became a brainstorming session into a more structured process. Slowly, my business idea took shape. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I was making real progress toward building an actual business, not just a daydream. What was written on that page marked the beginning of my first business—one that I still run today.
Secondly - Giving the Project a Tangible Presence
I quickly developed a routine of jotting down my thoughts, plans, and actions in a small notebook. Over time, this evolved into spending 1 to 3 hours each evening, whenever I had spare time. As I began creating content, this practice transitioned to my laptop, but I continued using the notebook for key notes, mainly to track what I had accomplished and what was next on my agenda. I’ve created a list below. Writing things down became a habit, and it still helps me clear my mind and visualize complex ideas.
...like a business partner, it was there for all my planning, creative, and reflective periods
The initial sheet of paper, turned into numerous scraps, creating a significant pile of paper – or rather, an eyesore. The notebook was soon adopted to keep things organised. Only later, when the project grew, did I transitioned to using a journal!
The physicality of the notebook, the journal, made the business project feel real and alive. It became like a business partner, there for all my planning, creative, and reflective periods. Seeing it every day, it naturally became part of my daily work routine, alongside everything else I did.
Write it down or loose it!
Only in reflection did I realise the significance of the brain dumping I did on the initial sheet of paper. Had I continued to rely solely on my brain for remembering and sorting, I truly believe my online ventures would never have happened.
A surprising benefit of recording my thoughts in physical form was the ability to capture details that I later relied on. I didn’t abandon my initial business idea, which I’m sure I would have if it hadn’t been recorded in a tangible notebook. Instead, this project evolved into Phase 2 of the business and eventually grew into a completely different entity.
Third, lastly - You Don't Know What You Don't Know!
One of my meticulously planned business ideas had to be put on hold when I realised I wasn’t quite ready to execute it. My initial premise for choosing this business idea was the understanding that selling directly to businesses (B2B) could be far more lucrative than selling to consumers. However, after working on the B2B approach for several weeks, I came to understand the numerous prerequisites for success in this niche.
Given my proposition—a high-value, personalised product—potential customers would expect to know more about my business’s background. Naturally, the first thing many would do before investing is look me up. The issue was that I lacked any relevant online presence in the field, rather, my existing online identity was unrelated to my intended profession, leaving me with no credibility. At a minimum, I needed a website to establish brand recognition and showcase my work. The time and effort required to build this foundation felt overwhelming, so I decided to set the project aside.
Although this project remains pending, I realised that without my ‘journal’—a notepad that eventually became too small for my thoughts—all these lessons and transitions might have been lost.
Here’s what I chose to do next: I decided to pursue a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) service closely related to the idea I’d just described. This allowed me to build a portfolio website showcasing the products I intended to sell to businesses. By doing so, my future B2B clients would be able to see my work in action, serving its intended purpose.
Journal vs Notebook?
I sometimes use these terms interchangeably, and I suggest you choose whichever form works best for you. The truth is, when I first started taking notes, all I had on hand was a notebook. This notebook turned out to be viewed as my first essential tool in business, as I truly believe it played a crucial role in helping me reach my goal. For me, that goal was achieving financial independence—enough to resume my travels, which I was thrilled to do just in time to escape the UK winter.
On the front of my notebook, I wrote this title: “My Journey to Project Escape.” I had hated my day job, and yes, I’ve long since escaped it. It wasn’t just the job I that I objected to, initially, it was meant to be a very temporary solution brought on by circumstances outside my control (the lockdowns making travelling difficult). However, that state of mind, unexpectedly, led me to start an online business—a random venture that, as it turns out, got me to where I am today: living and traveling in Southeast Asia.
My Business Journal
The Journal is my current method. I still keep and refer to my old notebooks because they contain valuable information, but I collected a summary of all the insights I’ve gathered using these two methods…
- A journal will help organise and record your thoughts – these can fade like a dream. This way you can revisit your ideas later and maybe develop them further.
- Brainstorming: you may have an idea that you’re unsure on how you can monetise. You just don’t always find the answers immediately.
- It allows you to stay organised and ensure that all important tasks are noted and can be checked off so that no important tasks or opportunities fall through the cracks.
- For ideas that are NOT FOR TODAY or NOT FOR THIS BUSINESS. It is important to get these out of your head: by committing them on paper it frees up your thinking. I labelled this PARKED IDEAS at the back of my journal.
- Books you need/want to read (consider audio when met with time constraints), then a page with ‘my learnings’ having read/listened to them.
- Courses that will come in useful, especially the details on where to go back to find details for when you’re ready.
- Personal growth: Having a page for new words or business terms.
- Websites that you’ve used for research (I bookmark these on my laptop and put the title in my journal reminding me of it).
- Phrases heard or read that resonates with you, or things that you find motivating or inspiring. If relevant, use these in our work BUT always use citations if quoting someone directly.
- Useful YouTube channels that you learned something from. I write a sentence of why I want to revisit it, then I simply make a note of the date I watched it since YouTube’s history panel saves my videos watched in chronologically ordered.
- ALWAYS write down exactly where you left things at the end of a working session
The Most Important Propose of My Journal
The final reason on my list is also the most frequent and important entry. However, overall, my journal is less detailed today since my online work is now my sole commitment. I always wrote in it as if I were leaving a note for a complete stranger—perhaps a colleague who would take over at the end of my shift. This approach greatly helped my future self because I never knew whether it would be a day or a week before I could find time to return to it.
Writing in this way made it much easier to get back into the flow of work without wasting time retracing my steps. It allowed me to pick up exactly where I had left off. I recorded details like the specific document I was working on, research I was conducting, or ideas and tasks I hadn’t been able to complete by the end of my session.
In addition, on the first page of my very first journal, I rewrote my “WHY” for pursuing my online business. On the left-hand pages, I wrote a few sentences outlining my ultimate business goal. Naturally, this evolved over time. I also currently have about six pages filled with business ideas.
Starting a notebook or journal felt like marking Day One of my journey—the first concrete step in the process. It compelled me into action, as I began collecting my ideas and creating a permanent record of my progress.
A move from that place to where you’re…
"no longer just talking about starting a business"
Conclusion
In summary to my no.1 reason, above, for putting a notebook into action was to help organise my thinking but it turned out that my brain alone would not have been able to process what turned into an enormous project. Had I not recorded this journey; or should I say, not written anything down, I truly believe I still would not have found a way to making an earning online today. By recording my thoughts, I also felt it slowed the mind allow me to think a lot clearer and stay focused, preventing me from becoming overwhelmed. There are studies that show that writing things down, as opposed to the use of laptops or digital devices, helps with conceptual thinking. It’s certainly true for me.
Good Luck And know that it’s the getting started that’s important. Don’t wait for perfection, that will follow with time.
Now available on Amazon
Track your progress as you as you uncover your path to multiple opportunities for earning an online income. The Journal and Workbook combo is a fantastic resource for aspiring entrepreneurs ready to take their first steps in starting an online business.
It’s tailored for every-day, busy individuals who may have average educational backgrounds but aspire to create a lifestyle that allows them to live a more than average life.
With practical, easy-to-follow info on the fundamentals of the workings of the online marketplace, you can track your progress and discover multiple opportunities for earning an online income
