Why Didn't I Think of This Sooner?

[image error]During my career in corporate America, whiteboards were rarely used.  That seems really odd as I look back on it now.  When I started my own consultancy about a year ago, I bought a small whiteboard to write down my "to do" list.  I loved it from the start.  It was right there in front of me.  I didn't lose my list.  It wasn't buried in a Word document on my computer or in the piles of paperwork around my office.  It was satisfying to cross things off and it's easy to add new "to dos" as they come to you throughout the day.  Why didn't I think of this sooner?

A large part of my consultancy includes public speaking and in crafting those presentations, the free flow of ideas that go through my head in the early stages of development were difficult to think through and organize.  Amazon.com to the rescue.  I bought the biggest whiteboard they had, 8ft x 4ft, and I have to say, it has literally changed the way I start each day and tackle each project.   Why didn't I think of this sooner?

[image error]What started with "presentation prep work" on the whiteboard, soon turned into just about "anything prep work" on the whiteboard.   My mind experienced a whole new freedom to brainstorm new business ideas, create marketing strategies, and take notes while on the phone with customers or participating in a webinar.  I use it to jot down blog ideas, an inspirational quote, a favorite tweet, follow up phone calls, goals and objectives for the week and just about anything else you can think of.

I'm the father of three young children and this is where the fun really begins.  Homework has taken on a new dimension.  Why?  The whiteboard.  My four year old uses it to practice writing his name.  He loves to use the different colors and he's working hard at writing the letter S "not backwards".  My two daughters use it for math, for spelling and even encouraging notes to Dad with hearts, smiley faces and "I love you's" in such a way that I often take a picture of it (yes, the whiteboard).

[image error]Yesterday, I attended pre-school with my 4 year old.  It was "Donuts with Dad" day.  He had painted a small piece of wood and on it was an imprint of his foot.  The words written above the footprint read, "walk a little slower daddy because I'm following you."  How cool is that?  It reminded me of simple things he likes to do (writing on the whiteboard) just like Dad.

I'm now looking into making a bigger whiteboard for the other wall (Lowes has the stuff you need to do it yourself… Why didn't I think of that sooner?).  As you can tell, I love these things.  The ability to see it, write it, think it, brainstorm it, remember it, go for it, explain it, be inspired by it or just do it has made my "to do's" a lot more satisfying.  The fact that it's served as such an incredibly useful learning tool for my children makes it even better!

[image error]And guess what I found in the iPad app store just the other day?  A whiteboard app called Zig Zag.  It serves as my mobile whiteboard and it's awesome.  And, I'm glad that I did think of that – sooner.

 

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