Moleskine Love!

I first learned of Moleskine's from the 43folders blog.  As much of a organizational freak as I am, I was instantly hooked on this simple, yet very flexible notebook.

If you don't know what they are, follow the 2 links above and then come back to this post.

My current system:

• I currently use 2 colored tabs (blue = business and yellow = personal)
• Pages are numbered so I can cross reference
• Business tabs
  • ToDo:  This is my daily "working document" page.  I categorize the sections on the page as Projects, What People Owe to Me, What I Need/Owe to my Boss, Active To Do, ideas section fo my weekly report, idea section for my sales meetings, phone calls, Fitness, bills.  I have 20 pages dedicated to this section and I need to redo the page about every 2 weeks.
  • Projects:  Each page is label on active projects that I am working on
  • Goals:  self explanitory
  • Ideas:  log ideas by date and follow up action

• Personal tabs
  • ToDo:  active worksheet.  I recently had all of my Christmas lists in this section.  I have sections for my personal and business blogs with ideas for postings, redesigns, etc.
  • Goals:  I have a section for Family, Athletic/Fitness, Personal
  • Ideas:  things I want to remember to explore, etc.
  • Notes:  not a fully developed section yet.  I had down a list of thank you notes I needed to write in this section

I keep a few note cards, a few business cards and extra tabs in the back pocket.

Do you use the Moleskine?  If so, what hacks do you use?

I'm absolutely in love with this notebook and gave them to a few people at work as Christmas gifts!

UPDATE - 1/14/05
Great links and thoughts on the Moleskine from Jeremy Wagstaff
[read]

Boing Boing lists Jeremy's post with a WSJ.com article link
[read]

Comments

[Bren]

Oh, you drank the KoolAid! :-)

Yeah, I dig my Moleskine too. I'm not much of a Moleskine hacker--I pretty much do what you've described.

Some folks are purists about their 'skines...won't consider ripping out pages. I don't mind...I prefer to use a blank notecard, but if I'm all out, I'll rip out a page. How 'bout you?

[K. Todd Storch]

Yep, drank the whole pitcher...! I don't rip out the pages yet...

Remember, I just started using it about a month ago, so I haven't had the situation of "running out" of pages.

I think right now, I would just buy another book and reset my sections.

The biggest question I had when developing, was how many pages per section so I didn't run out in one place, but have a ton of pages in another.

Well, I'm having a great time learning so far!

Todd

[Dave]

Todd, you're killing me. Could you please slow down a bit on all the neat ideas? :-)

I have to get one of these!

[K. Todd Storch]

Dave!

Onward we go!!!

Let me know about your new system and how you use it when you get one. I found them at Barnes and Noble, as well as Amazon.

Todd

[J]

OMG...you mean actually WRITE, in a NOTEBOOK? What a novel idea. But what will I do with my Treo? =]

Just kidding. I use my Moleskin for meetings (less geeky than the Treo) and I love it. And no one makes fun of me typing notes in my damn phone. *sigh*

[dave]

How did you come across 43 Folders Todd? Merlin has very cool productivity ideas. He site has an unbelievable amount of traffic too. How'd he do that?

[K. Todd Storch]

Dave,

I think I read about his blog through Slacker Manager a few months ago.

Just a great life "hack" site!

Todd

[Fred]

There is my 2 penny. This is a little Moleskine hack that I think of (not really true, it's an amalgam of already discussed hacks with some changes). I called it an Analog Blog. Tell me what you think of it, how it can be improved or if you think it's just a load of crap :)

http://radio.weblogs.com/0140770/2005/01/23.html

Fred.

[Steve Holden]

Great ideas ...

My Moleskine started off just as a capture tool. Within about 3 weeks I figured out I was capturing: tech reference material, contacts, and to do items.

So ... I now use the front moving forward as data capture areas. I then have a Work To Do list area (labeled with American flag stickers in the top right corner).

Then I made a space for tech references using the Moleskine stickers that came with the book (also in the top right courner).

Then I borrowed lettering from my wife's scrape book stickers, and made lettering for capturing people's contact info. This helps in finding stuff better.

I also go through during my GTD's Weekly Review and move data into Outlook. I mark things captured using an outliner.

So far so good. I think that my next Moleskine will be organized different based on all these good alternative ideas.

-- Steve

[Dwayne Melancon]

Todd, do you have a picture of your tabbing scheme that you can show us?

As a "not a 'skiner" for a long time, I'm finding that I need to hold on to my notes longer so I'm thinking of transitioning into this cult. I even have a virgin Moleskine in my possession right now and am researching how I want to set it up.

Thanks,
Dwayne

[J. Diniz]

I've been hooked on these for a few months now, and did quite an extensive internet research on usable hacks. My favorite models are the squared and blank pocket book, and the blank reporter notebook, as well as the small blank or squared cahier for individual projects or trips. Here's what I came to (and this is just my implementation of other peoples' ideas):

1. Writing implements
Pilot G-2 is the smoothest, darkest, silkiest pen around. Best for general use. Mini version available, called XS or Pixie.
Pilot G-TEC-C4 writes the finest line ever. Great for stuffing lots on info on a small paper landscape.
Fisher Space Pen, for the adventurous ones. Very pocketable and strong, impervious to the elements. Nevertheless, in regards to the writing pleasure, it's still just a ball pen.
Leadholders (2 mm, 2B) are classy and versatile for writing and sketching.
Mechanichal pencils (0,7 mm, HB) are really fine for writing, especially on the blank paper Moleskines.
Pencils are the way to go for the traditionalist, the artist and the cost-concious out there. You do, however, have to carry a knife or sharpenner to keep going anywhere. Best to chose a good brand like Staedler, and a B or 2B grade for softness and darkness.

2. Labeling Moleskines
Since I use three or four Moleskines at the same time, for different uses, I paint the rims of the pages with a highlighter. Just close the book, hold it tight, and run the thing through. Green is for my geocaching logbook, orange for my diary/planner, yellow for my profession, and blank for my personal use Moleskine. Can spot them a mile away.

3. Extras within
3x5 sticky notes on the front inside cover used for lists and handouts.
3M page color labels on the back inside cover for marking sections on the Moleskine.
Half a dozen 3x5 ruled index cards used for notes, page markers and blotter use (this is important with the G-2 pens).
Numbering pages seems to be mandatory, and I did it, but never actually got to use them as hyperlinks. Don't bother anymore with those.

4. Organising the pages
I just start by leaving a few pages blank at the beggining, for the more permanent stuff like calendar and dated matters. Just draw the calendar myself for the next three months or so, depending on the life expectation of the book. Next comes the main section, which I will divide only when needed to create a new category. The last pages ae set aside for contacts and other type of reference material. Doodles get to be backward written from the end of the main section. Important lists go to the main chapter, shopping and transient lists go on the sticky notes or index cards.

5. Wallet use
When travelling light, just stick VISA and ATM cards on the back cover pocket, ID and car documents amongst the last pages, close it up with the elastic band, and it's good to go.

6. Miscellaneous
A knot tied at the end of the page marker keeps it from sliding with the book closed, and from unravelling. Simple and efective.
Reward offered on the first page: a brand new Moleskine for whoever returns mine, if lost. Or, if preferred, a couple of gin tonics and a coffee appeal to lots of people (to me, it does).

Regards from Portugal.

[serge]

thanks a million for your hacks. I have been trying to sort out a proper system for a few days now. The split between work and personal suits me best.