It’s been a while, since I updated. My startup, Qworky is currently in the middle of 30 days of Better Meetings. Who knows maybe even a product release?

Sometimes I find that to solve some of my most pressing challenges all I need is a blank piece of paper. Many of the times the ‘piece of paper’ is digital. My favorite editor is Word 2010 (and WhiteSmoke). Other times when I feel overwhelmed, and I literally don’t know where to begin- my ‘piece of paper’ is in the cloud 750Words.com provides a nice experience of blank paper solitude.

However, and still, I find nothing is quite as moving as a blank piece of paper staring at me and my favorite pen.

“I start to think and then I sink into the paper, like I was ink. When I’m writing I’m trapped in between the lines, I escape when I finish the rhyme”

– Rakim, I Know You Got Soul

What I find is the blank page becomes a commitment that I must fill until whatever challenges are in my head are out of it and solved on the page. The blank page is also liberating. There is no baggage associated with it other than what I write. I usually start with something simple. Sometimes I’ll write it down on the page:

What is the goal? What are the most important things right now?

I write out a few concepts. Anything on my mind, I just list it out. From there I’m usually able to escape the clutter in my head, and focus on something – anything – on the list in front of me. Solving one problem is progress.

Sometimes I find that the list I’ve compiled isn’t the challenge at all, it’s something else holding me back from my goals.

Then with my pen I dive in.

Diagramming, outlining, jotting – or doodling.

 

The liberty of the blank piece of paper is the freedom to imagine a future state- and to bring it to conception from the thoughts and experiences you’ve had.

Begin with a Blank Page

Where do you want you want to be, or want your business to be? Is it time for you to take out a blank page and dream of a solution?

  

I recommend Moleskine.